Click here to visit the Iowa Commission of Latino Affairs website.

The Iowa Division of Latino Affairs

Originally established as the governor’s Spanish-speaking task force through legislative action on April 1974. At the time its primary mission was to study the issues facing Spanish-Speaking persons. The Task Force produced a report titled “Conoceme en Iowa.”

Two years later the Sixty-sixth General Assembly approved and on July 1, 1976, Governor Robert Ray signed into law the Spanish-Speaking People’s Commission. Ten years later, in 1986, during an overall reorganization of state government the Iowa Department of Human Rights was formed, under which was placed the Spanish-Speaking People’s Commission.

In 1990, the Commission and the Division were renamed Latino Affairs. Today, the day-to-day work of the Commission is run by the Division staff.