A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to the protected speech and expression rights of students, modifying provisions related to the duties of the department of education, and modifying eligibility and participation requirements for certain education programs, preschool programs, and tax provisions, providing civil penalties, and including retroactive applicability provisions.
SF 2231 expands access to preschool and college programs in Iowa. It allows community-based childcare centers and preschool providers to participate in school district programs under specific agreements, ensuring eligible four-year-olds can access services regardless of their program type. The bill also creates pathways for high school students (grades 9-12) to enroll in nonsectarian college courses at community colleges for credit, requiring school districts to notify students and parents about these options. Additionally, it mandates that public school districts make textbooks available to accredited nonpublic school students upon request, using state funds if appropriated. These provisions directly affect preschool providers, public/private school districts, high school students, and nonpublic school students.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Feb 9, 2026
Signed May 19, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
Enrolled
→
Enrolled with Governor's Action
·
1 edit
·
May 19, 2026
MINOR
The bill was finalized with the Governor's signature, converting it from an 'Enrolled' draft to an 'Enrolled with Governor's Action' version. The substantive policy content regarding student speech rights, preschool eligibility, and tax definitions remains unchanged, though the formatting was cleaned up to remove page headers and footers.
Scope change
No change in scope or applicability; the bill's reach and legal effect are identical to the previous version.
TECHNICAL
Removed repetitive page headers (e.g., 'Senate File 2231, p. 2') and footers from the text to produce a clean, final version of the law.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 3, 2026
How they voted
31–13
Passed · 5 other
Total votes 49
Mar 3, 2026
D
Democratic15
86% Nay
R
Republican34
91% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
48
Key actions
16
Committee
9
Amendments
12
May 19, 2026
Signed into law
Signed by Governor.
upper
Apr 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate, yeas 28, nays 16.
upper
Apr 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred with S-5177.
upper
Apr 9, 2026
Introduced
Message from House, with amendment S-5177.
upper
Apr 8, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed House, yeas 63, nays 25.
lower
Apr 8, 2026
Introduced
Motion to suspend rules for immediate consideration of amendment H-8313, yeas 23, nays 65.
lower
Apr 8, 2026
Introduced
Point of order raised on Amendment H-8313, ruled not germane.
lower
Apr 8, 2026
Lower · Passed
Amendment H-8316 adopted.
lower
Apr 8, 2026
Lower · Passed
Amendment H-8268 adopted, as amended.
lower
Apr 8, 2026
Introduced
Motion to suspend rules for immediate consideration of amendment H-8268, as amended, yeas 64, nays 24.
lower
Apr 8, 2026
Introduced
Point of order raised on amendment H-8268, as amended, ruled not germane.
lower
Apr 8, 2026
Introduced
Amendment H-8308 to amendment H-8268 out of order.
lower
Apr 8, 2026
Lower · Passed
Amendment H-8315 to amendment H-8268 adopted.
lower
Apr 8, 2026
Introduced
Amendment H-8308 to amendment H-8268 deferred.
lower
Apr 7, 2026
Introduced
Amendments H-8307, H-8308, H-8309, H-8310, H-8311, H-8312, H-8313, H-8315, H-8316 filed.
lower
Apr 7, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee vote: Yeas, 17. Nays, 8.
lower
Apr 7, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee report, recommending passage.
lower
Apr 6, 2026
Committee
Rereferred to Ways and Means.
lower
Mar 26, 2026
Introduced
Amendments H-8267 and H-8268 filed.
lower
Mar 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee vote: Yeas, 16. Nays, 7.
lower
Mar 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee report, recommending passage.
lower
Mar 16, 2026
Legislature · Passed
Subcommittee recommends passage.
legislature
Mar 10, 2026
Legislature · Passed
Subcommittee Meeting: 03/16/2026 12:45PM RM 102.
legislature
Mar 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee: Fett, Gehlbach and Matson.
lower
Mar 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate, yeas 30, nays 14.
upper
Feb 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee report, approving bill.
upper
Feb 9, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, placed on calendar.
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
No sponsor information available.
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