Education

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 10, 2025

HF 294: A bill for an act allowing certain cities to certify taxes for general fund levy for libraries.

HF 294 allows Iowa cities to certify a local tax for public library funding, limited to the amount the city collected for libraries in fiscal year 2022-2023. It requires cities to submit the tax question to voters at a regular election for approval, and the tax remains valid for ten years - renewable with another voter approval. Cities may also discontinue the tax via a majority city council vote. This bill directly affects participating Iowa cities and their library funding mechanisms, restoring a funding option eliminated by prior legislation (HF 718).

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill enables stable library funding via voter-approved tax, enhancing public educational access and resource availability for K-12 and lifelong learners.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Libraries

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 11, 2025

SSB 1066: A bill for an act relating to mandatory reporting to the board of educational examiners of licensed school employees who engage in grooming behavior toward students.

This bill amends Iowa law to clarify the definition of "grooming behavior" by licensed school employees toward students. It specifies that grooming behavior includes "building trust and emotional connections with a student with the intent to exploit such student," replacing the previous definition focused on "enticing or entrap[ing] a student to engage in a sex act." The change directly affects school employees (like teachers and staff) who may engage in such behavior, as well as school administrators required to report it to the Board of Educational Examiners. Current mandatory reporting rules for misconduct involving students remain in place, but this bill refines the specific conduct that triggers those reporting obligations.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill strengthens student safety by clarifying grooming behavior definitions and mandating reporting to protect students from exploitation by school employees, directly advancing educational safety standards.95% confidence

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 12, 2025

HF 359: A bill for an act relating to disclosures on property tax statements concerning school district funding reductions and individual taxpayer payments to the education savings account program.

HF 359 requires Iowa property tax statements to include three specific disclosures for each taxpayer: (1) how much less funding their school district received this year compared to last year due to students using education savings accounts (ESAs), (2) how much of their state income taxes funded the ESA program, and (3) a standardized statement showing the exact amount of reduced school funding linked to ESA payments. These disclosures directly affect property owners and taxpayers by making visible the connection between their payments and school funding changes caused by the ESA program. The bill mandates the Department of Management to calculate the funding reduction data and collaborate with the Department of Revenue to determine the tax contribution figures, then transmit both to the treasurer for inclusion on tax statements. This is a transparency measure focused on informing taxpayers about ESA program impacts, not altering the program itself.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill mandates disclosures showing school funding reductions due to ESA usage, highlighting defunding of public schools through taxpayer-facing disclosures.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice School Funding

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SF 14: A bill for an act establishing the comprehensive transition and postsecondary program scholarship program and making appropriations.

This bill establishes a scholarship program to help Iowa residents with intellectual, developmental, or learning disabilities (age 18+) cover tuition and fees for approved postsecondary education programs. The program, administered by the College Student Aid Commission with input from vocational rehabilitation services, provides up to $5,000 per student, prioritizing Iowa residents. It creates a dedicated scholarship fund in the state treasury, with unspent funds rolling over annually instead of reverting to the general fund. The bill requires the Commission to set application criteria and adopt rules for the program’s operation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates dedicated state appropriations ($5,000/student) for college scholarships via state treasury, directly advancing public service funding through new budget allocation.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes scholarship program funding postsecondary education access for disabled students, directly advancing educational opportunity through state appropriations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 18, 2025

SF 283: A bill for an act establishing the comprehensive transition and postsecondary program scholarship program and making appropriations.

SF 283 establishes a scholarship program to help Iowa residents with intellectual, developmental, or learning disabilities (age 18+) cover costs at approved postsecondary programs. The program, administered by the College Student Aid Commission with input from vocational rehabilitation services, provides up to $5,000 annually per academic year for tuition and fees at U.S. Department of Education-approved programs. Funds are held in a dedicated state treasury account that carries over yearly, avoiding annual budget reversion. Priority for scholarships is given to Iowa residents applying through an annual process.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state appropriations for disability scholarship program, increasing public service funding via dedicated treasury account.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes $5,000 annual scholarships for postsecondary education access for disabled Iowans, directly expanding educational funding and access for a specific group.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 19, 2025

SF 345: A bill for an act relating to compulsory education, including by modifying provisions related to absenteeism and truancy policies adopted by school districts and school attendance requirements related to children who are undergoing military entrance processing or who are engaged in military service.

SF 345 requires Iowa school districts to update their absenteeism and truancy policies to explicitly allow excused absences for students undergoing military entrance processing or engaged in military service, alongside existing reasons like illness, medical appointments, and family emergencies. These policies must clearly define unexcused absences, outline penalties, and detail support strategies for students with chronic absenteeism. The bill repeals outdated sections of law related to attendance reporting and enforcement, streamlining how schools handle attendance requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands excused absences for military-connected students, protecting educational access without penalty per attendance policy requirements.92% confidence

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 19, 2025

SF 111: A bill for an act relating to school personnel training, emergency care planning, authorizations for assisting, and limitations of liability concerning students with epilepsy or a seizure disorder.

SF 111 requires Iowa schools to ensure staff are trained to assist students with epilepsy or seizure disorders. Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, each school must have at least one trained employee (or full-time school nurse) capable of administering approved seizure medications or medical devices. Schools must provide all staff with seizure recognition and first aid training by December 2026, and obtain annual parent authorization for medication administration. The bill also mandates seizure action plans for affected students and provides liability protection for school staff acting in good faith under these plans. These requirements apply only to schools with students diagnosed with epilepsy or currently taking FDA-approved seizure medication.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates staff training for student medical emergencies, enhancing safety and access for students with epilepsy in schools.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates school staff training and protocols for emergency seizure care, improving access to timely medical treatment for students with epilepsy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Healthcare Workforce

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 20, 2025

SF 309: A bill for an act establishing the dependent of a disabled veteran tuition grant program within the college student aid commission and making appropriations.

SF 309 creates a tuition grant program for dependents of Iowa veterans with a 100% service-connected disability. It provides up to $10,000 annually for full-time students (max 8 semesters) or proportionally less for part-time students (max 12 semesters) to cover tuition and mandatory fees at eligible Iowa colleges. To qualify, students must be Iowa residents under 27, claimed as dependents on the veteran’s prior tax return, and enrolled full- or part-time at a state-regulated institution. The program requires annual reapplication, pays grants directly to institutions, and is funded by a $500,000 appropriation for fiscal year 2025-26.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly allocates state funds via appropriations for tuition grants, directly funding a new education program under the college student aid commission.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates tuition grant program funding higher education access for veterans' dependents, directly supporting educational funding and access through state appropriations.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransCreates tuition grants for dependents of disabled veterans, directly expanding educational benefits for veterans' families.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Military Families Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 20, 2025

HSB 227: A bill for an act relating to dates for elections to levy a tax for the payment of a bond issued by a school corporation.

This bill changes the election dates school districts can use to vote on taxes for paying school bond debts. It specifically adds "the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November" as an option for even-numbered years when holding a special election for bond-related tax levies or adjustments. School districts in Iowa will now have this additional date to schedule votes on bond payments, alongside existing March and September options. The change applies only to bond-related tax levies under sections 298.18 or 298.18A of the Iowa Code.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAdds election date option for school bond tax levies, facilitating infrastructure funding approval processes for school districts.85% confidence

Tags Elections

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 20, 2025

HF 274: A bill for an act relating to obscenity exemptions for public libraries and educational institutions.

HF 274 repeals Iowa Code section 728.7, which currently protects public libraries and accredited schools from obscenity laws when using educational materials or allowing minors to attend art exhibitions. This bill removes a legal exemption that previously shielded these institutions from prosecution under Iowa's obscenity statutes (Chapter 728) for displaying or providing materials deemed inappropriate for minors. The change would mean libraries and schools could potentially face obscenity charges for materials previously covered under this exemption. The bill directly affects public libraries, schools, and educational programs in Iowa that serve minors.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRemoves legal exemption shielding schools/libraries from obscenity charges, restricting access to educational materials and academic freedom.90% confidence

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