Iowa Code » Chapter 216 — OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS
Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 216.18 (2026)

Rules of construction

✓ current as of July 2026
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1. This chapter shall be construed broadly to effectuate its purposes. 2. This chapter shall not be construed to allow marriage between persons of the same sex, in accordance with chapter 595. [C66, 71, §105A.11; C73, §601A.11; C75, 77, §601A.16; C79, 81, §601A.18] C93, §216.18 2009 Acts, ch 133, §192

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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 37 cases (11 in the last 5 years), 1999–2025 · leading case: Tina Haskenhoff v. Homeland Energy Solutions, LLC, 897 N.W.2d 553 (Iowa 2017).
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Tina Haskenhoff v. Homeland Energy Solutions, LLC, 897 N.W.2d 553 (Iowa 2017). · cites it 34× “See Iowa Code § 216.18 (1). We note DeBoom was not a retaliation case and apply our retaliation decisions that require the higher causation standard.”
Simon Seeding & Sod, Inc. v. Dubuque Human Rights Comm'n & Jermaine Stapleton, 895 N.W.2d 446 (Iowa 2017). · cites it 12× “” Iowa Code § 216.18 (1); accord Dubuque, Iowa, Code of Ordinances § 8-4-10 (codifying same rule of construction).”
John Goodpaster v. Schwan's Home Serv., Inc. & Todd Swanson, Individually & in His Corp. Capacity, 849 N.W.2d 1 (Iowa 2014). · cites it 12× “” Iowa Code § 216.18 (1) (emphasis added). Of course, Toyota 12 and Sutton did not construe the terms of the federal statute broadly.”
Linda Pippen, on Behalf of Themselves & All Others Similarly Situated v. State, 854 N.W.2d 1 (Iowa 2014). · cites it 8× “” Iowa Code § 216.18 (1). There is no similar language in the Federal Civil Rights Act and, indeed, the case can be made that the recent cases of the United States Supreme Court, particularly Wards Cove and Wal-Mart, tend to construe the federal counterpart narrowly.”
Natalie Slaughter v. Des Moines Univ. Coll. of Osteopathic Med., 925 N.W.2d 793 (Iowa 2019). · cites it 4× “” Iowa Code § 216.18 (1). “It is an unfair or discriminatory practice for any educational institution to discriminate on the basis of .”
Nolan Deeds v. City of Marion, Iowa, St. Luke's Work Well Solutions St. Luke's Healthcare, & Iowa Health Sys., 914 N.W.2d 330 (Iowa 2018). · cites it 4× “Can it be that an employer can avoid responsibility for disability discrimination by contracting out the physical examination to a third party and simply following the third party’s conclusory recommendation that the person is not qualified for the job because of a medical…”
Vivian v. Madison, 601 N.W.2d 872 (Iowa 1999). · cites it 4× “” Although not referenced specifically, supervisors appear to fall within the gamut of persons, particularly in light of section 216.18 which instructs us to construe this chapter broadly to effectuate its purposes.”
Hawkins v. Grinnell Reg'l Med. Ctr., 929 N.W.2d 261 (Iowa 2019). · cites it 2× “Iowa Code § 216.18 (1). Title VII contains no similar language.”
Marlon Mormann v. Iowa Workforce Dev., 913 N.W.2d 554 (Iowa 2018). · cites it 2× “" Iowa Code § 216.18 (1) (2015); accord Haskenhoff v.”
Palmer Coll. of Chiropractic v. Davenport Civil Rights Comm'n & Aaron Cannon, 850 N.W.2d 326 (Iowa 2014). · cites it 4× “020 (“This chapter shall be construed broadly to effectuate its purpose.”). While ICRA and the DCRO set forth their protections in general terms, without language of limitation, the Rehabilitation Act and the ADA contain additional content in their statutory provisions.”
United Elec., Radio & Mach. Workers of Am. v. Iowa Pub. Emp. Relations Bd. & State of Iowa & Bd. of Regents, 928 N.W.2d 101 (Iowa 2019). · cites it 2× “Iowa Code § 216.18 (1). Just as we follow the legislative direction to liberally interpret the Iowa Civil Rights Act, e.”
Joanne Cote v. Derby Ins. Agency, Inc., an Iowa Corp., & Kevin Dorn, Individually, 908 N.W.2d 861 (Iowa 2018). “§ 216.18(1). "The ICRA was enacted 'to eliminate unfair and discriminatory practices in .”
Show all 37 citing cases →
— Iowa Code § 216.18(1) — 7 cases
Tina Haskenhoff v. Homeland Energy Solutions, LLC, 897 N.W.2d 553 (Iowa 2017). “See Iowa Code § 216.18 (1). We note DeBoom was not a retaliation case and apply our retaliation decisions that require the higher causation standard.”
John Goodpaster v. Schwan's Home Serv., Inc. & Todd Swanson, Individually & in His Corp. Capacity, 849 N.W.2d 1 (Iowa 2014). “” Iowa Code § 216.18 (1) (emphasis added). Of course, Toyota 12 and Sutton did not construe the terms of the federal statute broadly.”
Joanne Cote v. Derby Ins. Agency, Inc., an Iowa Corp., & Kevin Dorn, Individually, 908 N.W.2d 861 (Iowa 2018). “§ 216.18(1). "The ICRA was enacted 'to eliminate unfair and discriminatory practices in .”
Jesse Vroegh v. Iowa Dep't of Corr., & Wellmark, Inc. (Iowa 2022).
Darren Petro v. Palmer Coll. of Chiropractic (Iowa 2020).
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