Education

in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 28, 2026

SF 2066: A bill for an act relating to human growth and development course enrollment at school districts and to pupil attendance at educational conferences or seminars in which human growth and development information is provided.

SF 2066 requires Iowa school districts to obtain written parental consent before enrolling students in human growth and development courses or arranging attendance at related educational conferences or seminars. It mandates that school boards annually provide parents with specific information about such courses and conferences, including how to request their child's exemption. The bill prohibits school districts from requiring student participation without this written consent, which must be submitted to the principal. This policy directly affects parents/guardians, school districts, and students in Iowa public schools, with implementation funded through existing state school foundation aid.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRequires parental consent for human growth courses, restricting student access to curriculum without consent; aligns with 'restricts curriculum' opposition indicator.92% confidence

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 18, 2026

HF 2078: A bill for an act relating to resident dependents not enrolled in a public school or receiving an educational savings account payment by creating an opportunity tax credit available against the individual income tax, creating a fund, making appropriations, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.

HF 2078 creates an opportunity tax credit of $4,000 per eligible dependent for Iowa taxpayers whose children are not enrolled in public school or receiving an educational savings account (ESA) payment. It directly affects parents or guardians of dependents who meet specific criteria, such as having attended public school for at least one semester, being eligible for kindergarten, or previously receiving an ESA payment. The credit is refundable, can be claimed on tax returns or requested as an advance payment from a newly created state fund, and requires the Department of Revenue to verify enrollment status with the Department of Education. The bill applies retroactively to tax years beginning January 1, 2026, and mandates annual reports starting in 2028 detailing claims and potential fraud.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates refundable $4,000 tax credit for educational expenses, reducing tax burden on eligible middle/lower income families. Directly provides tax relief as a fiscal policy.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates $4,000 tax credit for families using non-public education options, expanding educational access through direct financial support for dependent education expenses.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits K-12 Education School Choice

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 29, 2026

SSB 3004: A bill for an act providing for an online platform for professionals to provide career information to students.

Iowa's SSB 3004 requires the Department of Workforce Development to create an online platform connecting Iowa students with professionals for career exploration. The platform allows educators at participating schools to request virtual sessions with professionals matching students' interests and classroom needs, enabling students to explore careers from their classrooms. Key features include matching professionals' skills to curriculum, hosting live Q&A sessions, sharing recorded industry videos, and allowing industry groups to sponsor school participation. This directly affects Iowa public school students, educators, and professionals seeking to engage with youth.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates online platform linking students to career professionals, enhancing curriculum-based career exploration within schools per bill's mandate.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyCreates online platform using internet for career exploration, expanding educational technology access and digital engagement for students.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Curriculum Social Media

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 29, 2026

HF 2003: A bill for an act requiring the department of education to develop and administer a pilot program that requires certain specified school districts to establish attendance centers for students requiring special education and students with behavioral issues.

HF 2003 requires Iowa's Department of Education to create a pilot program where one rural school district and one urban school district (meeting specific population criteria) must establish attendance centers for students needing special education or struggling with behavioral issues that prevent success in regular classrooms. The program mandates annual reporting on student participation, academic progress, and feedback from students, parents, and teachers, with the Department compiling these reports for the legislature. It redirects 48% of a school district's existing special education funds toward this pilot program starting in 2026, instead of using them for standard special education services. The pilot runs until July 1, 2031, and applies only to the designated districts.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates creation of specialized attendance centers for special education/behavioral needs students, requiring annual reporting on progress and feedback to improve K-12 educational outcomes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 23, 2026

SF 2095: A bill for an act relating to vaccination exemptions for certain students in clinical rotations and the qualification of postsecondary schools as eligible institutions for Iowa tuition grants.

SF 2095 requires Iowa postsecondary schools offering health-related degree programs (like nursing or medicine) to find clinical rotation placements where students can be exempt from vaccination rules during their training, upon student request. This applies specifically to students completing supervised health care training for academic credit. Schools failing to provide such exemptions lose eligibility to receive Iowa tuition grants for their students. The bill amends existing law to link school compliance with vaccination exemption placement to tuition grant eligibility.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill links Iowa tuition grants to schools accommodating vaccination exemptions for health students, enabling clinical training access and program continuity without restricting educational pathways.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill enables clinical training for healthcare students by requiring vaccination exemptions, supporting healthcare workforce development and educational access in health programs.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Public Health

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 10, 2026

HF 2029: A bill for an act relating to health care coverage of public school district personnel under the state health insurance plan, providing fees, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.

This bill allows public school district employees and elected officials to enroll in Iowa's state health insurance plan, matching the premium rates paid by state employees. School districts must apply for coverage and pay monthly premiums plus administrative fees, deposited into a dedicated trust fund for the program. Unpaid premiums incur interest, and the state may withhold district funding until payments are made. Annual reports on enrollment, costs, and program impact are required. The bill takes effect July 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides health insurance coverage for school staff, supporting educator benefits and retention through state-matched premium rates.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands health insurance coverage to public school personnel under state plan, matching state employee rates and requiring enrollment funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Insurance

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 9, 2026

HSB 604: A bill for an act authorizing community-based providers to directly participate in the statewide preschool program for four-year-old children.

This bill allows private childcare centers and community-based providers (like non-profit early learning centers) to directly run Iowa's statewide preschool program for four-year-olds, rather than only partnering with school districts. It creates new approval requirements for these providers, including meeting quality standards, participating in data collection, and ensuring professional development for teachers. Funding rules require that state preschool aid supplements existing local funding (not replaces it) and cannot be used for facility construction. The bill also specifies that children enrolled outside the typical age range in these programs won't count toward state funding calculations.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands preschool access by allowing private/community providers to directly operate program, with quality standards and state funding supplementing local resources.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 16, 2026

HSB 610: A bill for an act relating to computer science education, including high school curricula and graduation requirements, practitioner preparation programs, and college admissions, and including applicability provisions.

Iowa's HSB 610 requires all public and accredited nonpublic high schools to include one semester of computer science as a graduation requirement for students graduating in the 2030-2031 school year and beyond. The bill mandates that computer science courses must cover fundamental concepts of evolving technologies and artificial intelligence - including how AI works, its societal impact, and ethical considerations - starting in the 2022-2023 school year for a half-unit requirement. The state must publish a list of approved computer science courses by June 2027 and create a plan to expand teacher capacity, especially for small schools (under 500 students in grades 9-12). This directly affects Iowa high school students, educators, and school districts implementing new graduation standards.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates computer science curriculum expansion with AI ethics coverage, enhancing K-12 educational requirements and student program standards.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates computer science education including AI concepts, ethics, and societal impact, promoting tech literacy and digital readiness in curricula.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Higher Education K-12 Education Artificial Intelligence

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SF 2092: A bill for an act establishing the school health-related emergency response plan competitive grant program within the department of education, making appropriations, and including applicability provisions.

SF 2092 creates a competitive grant program within Iowa's Department of Education to help schools develop cardiac emergency response plans. The program provides funding to schools (including public, nonpublic, and charter schools) to cover costs for plans meeting specific requirements, such as establishing emergency response teams, placing automated external defibrillators (AEDs) within three minutes of any location on school property, requiring annual staff training in CPR and AED use, and conducting regular emergency drills. Schools must follow American Heart Association guidance for AED placement and maintenance, and the grants are intended to supplement, not replace, existing funding for these purposes. The law applies to school years starting July 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates grant program funding cardiac emergency response plans for schools, directly supporting school safety infrastructure under education department.95% confidence

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 16, 2026

SF 2119: A bill for an act relating to obscenity exemptions for public libraries and educational institutions.

SF 2119 repeals Iowa Code section 728.7, which currently protects public libraries and schools from obscenity charges when providing age-appropriate educational materials. The bill removes a legal exemption that previously stated obscenity laws (Chapter 728) do not prohibit the use of such materials in accredited schools, public libraries, or educational programs with minors. This change would mean libraries and schools could face obscenity prosecutions for materials previously shielded under this exemption. The bill directly affects public libraries, schools, and educational programs that distribute materials to minors. (Note: The bill is procedural in nature but changes substantive law, requiring a 3-5 sentence summary.)

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRemoves legal exemption protecting schools/libraries from obscenity prosecutions for educational materials, restricting content access and academic freedom.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Libraries

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