A bill for an act relating to public schools, including requiring public schools to display the national motto and the state motto and to start each day of classroom instruction with silent time.

HF 166 requires all Iowa public school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to display the national motto (from 36 U.S.C. §302) and Iowa's state motto in a visible location, such as the main entrance of each school building. It also mandates that schools begin each school day with two minutes of silent time immediately before the daily pledge of allegiance in grades 1-12. Students may opt out of reciting the pledge if they or their parents object, but the silent time requirement applies regardless. The bill does not change the existing requirement to administer the pledge but adds the silent period as a new procedural step.