Zach Nunn in IA legislative records

On Jobs: Pay discrimination threatens morale as well as society

• An equal pay task force is created. The task force shall study wage discrepancies within public and private employment and between public and private employers.
• The general assembly finds that the practice of discriminating against any employee because of the age, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, or disability of such employee by paying wages to such employee at a rate less than the rate paid to other employees does all of the following:
  • Unjustly discriminates against the person receiving the lesser rate.
  • Leads to low employee morale, high turnover, and frequent labor unrest.
  • Curtails employment opportunities, decreases employees' mobility, and increases labor costs.
  • Threatens the well-being of citizens of this state and adversely affects the general welfare.

On Education: $40M more for schools; $150M more for teachers

Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds added, "By setting funding levels early in the session, we are able to provide predictability and stability that administrators, school boards and teachers need. I want to thank the legislature for moving quickly on this important issue. This is a difficult budget, but this $40 million increase for K-12 education is on top of the $150 million provided through the Teacher Leadership System that rewards our great teachers. Teachers are the key to giving students a globally competitive education and helping us close the skills gap in Iowa."

Bill passed the Iowa House 55-40-5 on Feb. 6, 2017; State Rep. Zach Nunn voted YES; passed the Iowa Senate on Feb. 2, 2017, 28-21.

On Abortion: Voted YES on making abortion illegal at 20 weeks

Des Moines Register analysis, 3/22/17: SF471 says any person who intentionally terminates a pregnancy that has reached 20 weeks post-fertilization commits a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The bill allows exceptions to preserve the life of the mother or the fetus, or to avert a "serious risk" to the pregnant woman of "substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a bodily function." It also allows exceptions for fetal abnormalities where a child could not survive outside the womb. "Putting these criminal penalties on here puts a woman's life at risk immediately, because trying to save a woman's life now potentially makes a doctor a criminal," said Rep. Beth Woessel-Kroeschell (D)

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 55-43-3 on 4/5/17; State Rep. Zach Nunn voted YES; Passed Senate 30-20-0 on 4/20; Signed by Gov. Branstad on 5/5.

On Gun Control: Kids over age 14 can use guns with parental approval

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 33-17 on April 4, vote #S.J.875; passed House 57-36 on April 6, vote #H.J.917; State Rep. Zach Nunn voted YES; signed by Gov. Branstad April 13, record #H.J.1009.

On Government Reform: Require identification to vote

[New subsections]:
• "Voter ID card" is amended to include a US military or veterans identification card.
• If the photo ID presented does not contain the person's current address in the precinct, the person shall also present documents with a current address in the precinct, dated within 45 days

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 28-21-1 on April 13, vote #S.J.1005; passed House 56-40-4 on April 10, vote #H.J.960; State Rep. Zach Nunn voted YES; signed by Gov. Branstad May 5, record #H.J.1148.

On Abortion: Vote for abortion ban at 6 weeks when heartbeat is heard

As Reynolds inked the bill, backers' cheers nearly drowned out the echoing chorus of "My body, my choice" shouted by protesters just outside the door.

"I believe that all innocent life is precious and sacred," Reynolds said from her formal office before signing a bill that will outlaw nearly all abortions in the state. "As governor, I have pledged to do everything in my power to protect it. And that's what I'm doing today."

Senate File 359 will take effect July 1. Under the legislation, physicians will be barred from performing most abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, about 6 weeks into a pregnancy-- often before a woman realizes she's pregnant.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House, 51-46-3 (H.J. 901, May 1); State Rep. Zach Nunn voted YES; passed Senate, 29-17-4, (S.J. 1013, May 1); Signed by Governor (S.J. 1059, May 4, 2018)