This bill amends Iowa's definition of "qualified education expenses" for state tax-advantaged savings plans. It aligns Iowa's definition with specific federal Internal Revenue Code sections (529(e)(3) and 529(c)(7)), expanding covered expenses to include elementary/secondary school tuition, registered apprenticeship program costs, and principal/interest payments on qualified education loans for beneficiaries or their siblings. The change directly affects Iowa residents using the state's educational savings plan trust (Code chapter 12D) by clarifying which education costs qualify for tax benefits. The bill removes an outdated reference to a specific federal amendment while updating the definition to match current federal guidelines.
This bill requires all Iowa public school districts, charter schools, and accredited nonpublic schools to adopt policies that automatically excuse student absences for participation in 4-H club or FFA activities. Schools must grant excused absences when students miss class for these programs and allow them to make up any missed work. The policy applies to all students involved in 4-H or FFA-sponsored activities or projects, ensuring consistent support for agricultural education participation. It directly affects school boards and administrators responsible for attendance policies. The law mandates these specific requirements without adding new exceptions or altering existing attendance rules.
This bill prohibits Iowa public school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools from offering any program, curriculum, test, survey, questionnaire, promotion, or instruction about gender theory or sexual orientation to students in grades seven through twelve. It extends an existing ban that previously applied only to kindergarten through sixth grade to cover all middle and high school students. The law requires schools to remove such content from their human growth and development curriculum, which must instead focus on age-appropriate, research-based topics like health, safety, and disease prevention as outlined in other sections of the law. This is a direct policy change affecting school curricula in 7th-12th grades across participating schools.
This bill amends Iowa's definition of "qualified education expenses" for state educational savings plans. It aligns the definition with specific sections of the federal Internal Revenue Code, explicitly including elementary and secondary school tuition, apprenticeship program costs (registered with the U.S. Labor Department), and qualified education loan payments. The change directly affects Iowa residents using the state's educational savings plans (like 529 plans) by expanding eligible expenses to cover more education-related costs under federal tax rules. The bill removes an outdated reference to a specific IRS amendment while ensuring state plan rules match current federal definitions.
HF 2051 adds "school and career specialists" to the list of positions school districts can share with other entities (like other districts or political subdivisions) to qualify for extra state funding. It directly affects Iowa school districts that share these specialists for at least 20% of the school year. The key provision assigns each shared school and career specialist role a supplementary weighting equivalent to funding for two additional students, increasing resources for districts that collaborate on these services. This policy targets specialists who support at-risk students with career planning, life skills, and postsecondary transitions.
This bill, HSB 547 (the "Admissions Reform Act"), would require Iowa's regents universities to include the "classic learning test" as an additional standardized test option in their admission index (RAI) starting before the 2026-2027 academic year, alongside ACT/SAT scores. It also mandates that by December 31, 2026, the state board of regents adopt a policy limiting admission considerations for students who do not qualify under the RAI to only "merit" and "likelihood of employment in Iowa after graduation." The RAI currently combines ACT/SAT scores, high school GPA, and core course completion to assess applicant readiness. This bill directly affects regents universities and prospective students applying to these institutions, particularly those not meeting the RAI criteria.
HF 2124 requires Iowa's Department of Education to create and oversee a single statewide electronic data system for all public school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and area education agencies. The system must standardize data reporting, protect student/staff privacy, allow seamless transfer of student records between schools, and work with existing school software. It also mandates the Department modernize its own electronic systems by July 2027, including a new portal for schools to validate data, check enrollments, and access real-time reporting tools. This bill directly affects all Iowa schools and the Department of Education by centralizing data management and improving system interoperability.
SSB 3006 requires Iowa colleges and universities to schedule a career development meeting for all newly enrolled undergraduate students during their first semester or orientation. During this meeting, students must review their work history, interests, and potential career paths tied to their major or interests, while also receiving information on internships, jobs, and resume resources. Institutions must also provide written materials detailing local job availability, pay ranges, high-demand occupations, and high-paying careers in Iowa that don’t require a bachelor’s degree. The law applies to first-time students enrolling on or after July 1, 2026, and covers both state-regulated institutions and private schools serving students with Iowa tuition grants.
This bill updates Iowa's definition of "qualified education expenses" for its educational savings plans to align with current federal Internal Revenue Code standards. It specifically includes elementary and secondary school tuition (under IRS section 529(c)(7)), apprenticeship program costs, and qualified education loan payments for beneficiaries or their siblings. The change directly affects Iowans using state savings plans for education expenses, ensuring eligibility matches federal guidelines. The bill is procedural, simplifying Iowa's legal reference without altering policy benefits or creating new requirements.
SF 2007 increases the supplementary funding weight for Iowa school districts that share the operational functions of a school resource officer with a political subdivision (such as a city or county) for at least 20% of the school year. The bill raises the weight from two to five pupils per shared function, providing additional state funding to eligible districts to redirect resources toward student programming. This change applies to school budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2026, and directly affects school districts meeting the sharing criteria. The policy clarifies that districts may qualify for this increased funding even if the shared functions differ between the district and the political subdivision.
