A bill for an act requiring boards of directors of school districts, governing boards of charter schools, and authorities in charge of accredited nonpublic schools to adopt policies related to exempting student absences for school-sponsored activities, programs, competitions, and projects.
This bill requires school districts, charter schools, and accredited nonpublic schools to adopt policies that exempt student absences for 4-H club or FFA activities from unexcused absence records. The policies must also allow students to make up any missed classwork due to these absences. It applies directly to all covered schools in Iowa, ensuring consistent treatment for students participating in these agricultural education programs. The requirement standardizes how schools handle absences related to 4-H and FFA activities without penalizing student participation.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Feb 5, 2026
Signed May 19, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 5 comparisons
What changed between versions
Reprinted Marked Up
→
Reprinted
·
3 edits
MINOR
The bill was reprinted to reflect its final passage by the Senate and approval by the Governor. The most significant substantive change is the narrowing of the bill's scope: the requirement to exempt absences now applies only to activities sponsored by 4-H clubs or the FFA, removing the broader language that previously covered all school-sponsored activities, programs, competitions, and projects.
Scope change
The bill's scope was narrowed from a general mandate covering all school-sponsored activities to a specific mandate covering only 4-H club and FFA activities.
SCOPE
The definition of eligible activities was changed from a broad list including all school-sponsored activities, programs, competitions, and projects to a specific list limited to activities or projects sponsored by a 4-H club or the FFA.
The general language requiring policies for all school-sponsored activities, programs, competitions, and projects was removed.
TECHNICAL
Header information was added to indicate the bill was passed by the Senate on February 23, 2026, and approved by the Governor, replacing the previous transmission letter format.
Floor votes · Senate Feb 23, 2026
How they voted
45–0
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 49
Feb 23, 2026
D
Democratic15
93% Yea
R
Republican34
91% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
27
Key actions
12
Committee
6
Amendments
5
May 19, 2026
Signed into law
Signed by Governor.
upper
Apr 15, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate, yeas 47, nays 0.
upper
Apr 15, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred with S-5165.
upper
Apr 8, 2026
Introduced
Message from House, with amendment S-5165.
upper
Apr 7, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed House, yeas 85, nays 8.
lower
Apr 7, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee amendment H-8246 adopted.
lower
Mar 19, 2026
Introduced
Committee amendment H-8246 filed.
lower
Mar 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee vote: Yeas, 22. Nays, 1.
lower
Mar 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee report, recommending passage.
lower
Mar 9, 2026
Legislature · Passed
Subcommittee recommends passage.
legislature
Mar 5, 2026
Legislature · Passed
Subcommittee Meeting: 03/09/2026 1:00PM House Lounge.
legislature
Mar 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee: Hora, Behn and Madison.
lower
Feb 23, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate, yeas 46, nays 0.
upper
Feb 23, 2026
Introduced
Amendment S-5023 filed, adopted.
upper
Feb 23, 2026
Introduced
Amendment S-5022 filed, lost.
upper
Feb 5, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee report, approving bill.
upper
Feb 5, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, placed on calendar.
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
No sponsor information available.
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