Education

in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 3, 2025

SF 282: A bill for an act prohibiting certain requirements for students and faculty at regents institutions relating to diversity, equity, inclusion, and critical race theory and including applicability provisions.

SF 282 prohibits Iowa's regents institutions (public universities) from requiring students to take courses or faculty to participate in activities related to diversity, equity, inclusion, or critical race theory as part of any degree program. It bans forcing students to enroll in such courses for general education, majors, or certificates, and prevents institutions from tying faculty evaluations, promotions, or pay to including related content in courses. Exemptions are allowed only for programs explicitly titled as focusing on racial, ethnic, or gender studies, but students cannot be forced to take these programs to meet other degree requirements. The law takes effect for the 2026-2027 academic year.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationProhibits mandatory DEI/CRT-related courses and faculty activities, restricting curriculum requirements in higher education.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 11, 2025

SF 244: A bill for an act providing for general education requirements for undergraduate students at regents institutions and including applicability provisions.

SF 244 requires Iowa's regents institutions (public universities) to establish standardized general education requirements for undergraduate students. It mandates specific credit hours: six each for English composition, world language, math/stats, natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities, plus three each for western heritage (e.g., Western civilization) and American heritage (e.g., American history or Iowa history), totaling no more than 40 credits. The bill prohibits courses from distorting historical events or teaching theories about systemic racism, sexism, or oppression as inherent in U.S. or Iowa institutions, while preserving academic freedom. Exceptions apply for three-year degree programs or complex majors, and anyone can report violations to the attorney general for enforcement. The requirements apply to students enrolling at regents institutions starting in academic years beginning July 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates standardized curriculum requirements across disciplines, strengthening educational structure without restricting academic freedom or funding.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

Track

in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 7, 2025

SSB 1211: A bill for an act modifying supplemental aid and modified supplemental amounts for certain school districts relating to open enrollment, and including effective date and applicability provisions.

This bill modifies how Iowa school districts receive supplemental funding based on open enrollment. It sets a 35% threshold for open enrollment (students from outside the district) to qualify for aid, requires districts to hold a public hearing before applying, and caps aid at 50% of the net enrollment increase multiplied by specific per-pupil costs (like teacher salaries and professional development). Districts where over half of open-enrollment students use private online instruction are excluded. The changes apply to school budgets starting July 1, 2025, and repeal a prior tax levy limitation.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill caps supplemental aid at 50% of net enrollment increase, restricting school district funding access under budget management rules.95% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationCaps supplemental aid at 50% of net enrollment increase, restricting funding for districts with open enrollment beyond 35% threshold.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice School Funding Teachers

Track

in committee · Iowa · House Mar 7, 2025

HSB 43: A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to community college and department of education reporting requirements, the national board certification pilot project, and employees of the Iowa educational services for the blind and visually impaired program or the Iowa school for the deaf, and including effective date provisions.

This bill modifies Iowa's education policies by changing how community colleges and the Department of Education (DE) handle reporting, establishing a teacher certification pilot program, and updating employment rules for specialized education programs. It requires community colleges to submit annual financial and program data directly to DE (not the community colleges bureau) by specific deadlines, with summaries included in DE's annual report to the legislature. The bill creates a national board certification pilot for Iowa teachers, allocating $508,250 for certification awards and stipends, and updates termination procedures and compensation schedules for staff at Iowa's programs for the blind/visually impaired and the deaf. These changes affect community colleges, DE, K-12 teachers seeking certification, and employees of specialized educational programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates national board certification pilot for teachers and updates employment rules for specialized programs, supporting educator development and accessibility in education services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

Track

in committee · Iowa · House Apr 3, 2025

HF 212: A bill for an act relating to meals, food, and beverages provided to students enrolled in school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools, and including applicability provisions.

HF 212 requires school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools offering breakfast or lunch programs to follow specific food standards. It mandates using natural fats and oils (like butter, olive oil, or coconut oil) instead of margarine in school meals and bans the use of certain ingredients - including artificial dyes (like blue dye 1 and red dye 40), brominated vegetable oil, and margarine - in meals served to students. The bill also prohibits selling beverages containing these banned ingredients during school functions unless sold off-site or after 30 minutes past the school day’s end. These rules apply to all schools with meal programs starting July 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates healthier school meals (natural fats, bans harmful additives) to improve student nutrition, directly enhancing educational environment and student well-being.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

Track

died · Iowa · House Apr 21, 2025

HF 163: A bill for an act relating to school safety by requiring the creation of threat assessment teams and authorizing information sharing between certain governmental agencies.

HF 163 aims to enhance school safety by requiring the creation of multidisciplinary threat assessment teams in school districts and accredited nonpublic schools. These teams will coordinate resources to assess and intervene when K-12 students exhibit behavior that may pose a threat to school safety. The bill also authorizes "covered entities," including schools, the judicial branch, and criminal justice agencies, to share records and information about students at risk of mental illness or posing a significant threat, to ensure access to appropriate services or safety. Additionally, it provides civil liability immunity to individuals who, in good faith, report or investigate credible dangers of serious harm on school property.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill enhances school safety via threat assessment teams, directly protecting K-12 educational environments and student well-being as part of education policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Testing & Assessment

Track

in committee · Iowa · House May 12, 2025

HF 883: A bill for an act providing for access to feminine hygiene products in public school restrooms and making an appropriation.

House File 883 requires public school districts to provide free feminine hygiene products, such as sanitary napkins and tampons, to female students in grades six through twelve. These products must be accessible in women's restrooms within school buildings and refilled regularly. The bill appropriates state funds to the Department of Education from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028, to reimburse school districts for the full cost of compliance. After this period, school districts will cover these costs using state school foundation aid.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates state funds (2025-2028) to reimburse school districts for feminine hygiene products, directly funding a public service through state budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires free feminine hygiene products in school restrooms for grades 6-12, ensuring student access and well-being, with state funding for implementation.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill funds free feminine hygiene products in schools, improving access to essential health supplies for students, aligning with public health access goals through state appropriation.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

Track

in committee · Iowa · Senate May 14, 2025

SSB 1240: A bill for an act making appropriations from the sports wagering receipts fund, and including effective date provisions.

SSB 1240 appropriates funds from the sports wagering receipts fund for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025. It allocates $14 million to the Department of Education to supplement the compensation of non-salaried education support personnel in school districts. School districts must report staff information by July 1, 2025, to receive these funds, which will be distributed based on student enrollment. Additionally, the bill appropriates $8 million to the Department of Public Safety for its public safety equipment fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $14M to education support staff and $8M to public safety from sports wagering receipts, directly funding public services using dedicated tax revenue.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $14M from sports wagering fund to supplement non-salaried education support staff compensation, directly funding school personnel under education department.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAllocates $14M to supplement compensation for non-salaried education support personnel, directly supporting wages under Labor & Employment topic.85% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget School Funding

Track

passed · Iowa · House Apr 16, 2025

HF 315: A bill for an act relating to budget adjustments by school districts affected by a natural disaster.

HF 315 modifies the process for budget adjustments available to Iowa school districts impacted by natural disasters. Currently, school districts can receive a budget adjustment based on the difference between their current and 101% of their previous year's regular program district cost. This bill introduces an additional year of budget adjustment for districts that have already received an adjustment and were affected by a federally declared major disaster or state disaster emergency in the base year or the year prior. This additional adjustment would be equal to the amount of the district's budget adjustment from the base year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill enables additional budget adjustments for school districts post-disaster, supporting fiscal management of public education funding without tax changes.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides additional budget adjustment year for disaster-affected school districts, ensuring continued funding stability and support for K-12 education infrastructure after natural disasters.92% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget School Funding

Track

signed · Iowa · House Jun 11, 2025

HF 437: A bill for an act establishing a center for intellectual freedom at the university of Iowa.

HF 437 establishes a Center for Intellectual Freedom at the University of Iowa. The bill creates a formal unit within the university dedicated to supporting academic freedom, free expression, and open inquiry on campus. It directly affects the University of Iowa by requiring the institution to develop and maintain this center as part of its operations. The law was passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor on June 11, 2025, making it effective immediately.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes a Center for Intellectual Freedom at University of Iowa to directly support academic freedom and open inquiry in higher education, advancing core educational values.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education