Education (Higher Education)

introduced · Iowa · Legislature

5497XD: Concurrent Enrollment and Career and Academic Planning (5497XD) - Education, Department of

This bill establishes a statewide list of high-demand jobs to guide workforce programs like apprenticeships and scholarships, while allowing community colleges to identify up to five regional high-demand jobs for local career planning. It updates career academy requirements to ensure they are career-focused, include articulated postsecondary pathways, and require director approval. The bill also adjusts school funding weights for high school students taking community college courses (with higher weighting for career/technical courses) and mandates community colleges to create statewide agreements for seamless transfer of career-technical credits to four-year universities without arbitrary limits. These changes directly affect high school students, community colleges, school districts, and career academies across Iowa.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAdjusts school funding weights for high school students taking community college courses and updates career academies to include postsecondary pathways.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Higher Education K-12 Education

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 6, 2025

HF 264: A bill for an act providing for temporary abrogation of authority of the state board of regents over regents institutions based on the amount of appropriations to the institutions from the general fund of the state.

HF 264 requires Iowa's State Board of Regents to annually review whether general fund appropriations to the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, and the University of Northern Iowa meet or exceed 52% of their combined projected operating costs by August 1 each year. If appropriations fall below this threshold, the Board temporarily loses all authority over these institutions for the rest of that fiscal year, and each university gains direct control over management, budgets, programs, and operations as if the Board had no authority. The Board regains full authority on July 1 of the following year. This bill directly affects the three public universities and shifts operational control based solely on funding levels relative to projected costs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates 52% general fund appropriations threshold to prevent underfunding of universities, ensuring fiscal responsibility for public higher education budgets.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates 52% general fund appropriation threshold to prevent regents' governance loss, ensuring stable funding for universities and protecting institutional autonomy from underfunding.92% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Higher Education

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died · Iowa · House Apr 28, 2025

HF 772: A bill for an act providing for an annual authorization fee to be collected by the college student aid commission from certain postsecondary educational institutions not subject to registration with the commission.

HF 772 requires the college student aid commission to collect a new annual authorization fee from certain postsecondary educational institutions. This fee applies to educational entities that are either exempt from standard registration with the commission or those offering educational courses in Iowa, and who do not already pay a registration fee. The bill sets the annual fee at $2,000 for institutions with a primary location in Iowa and $3,500 for those located outside of Iowa, beginning July 1, 2025. The commission is authorized to increase these fees annually by up to three percent.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes mandatory fees for postsecondary institutions to fund the College Student Aid Commission, directly supporting higher education financial aid programs through new revenue.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 30, 2025

HSB 6: A bill for an act relating to in-state residency for purposes of undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees at regents institutions and community colleges for certain military personnel and family members.

This bill expands Iowa's in-state tuition residency rules to include more military-connected students. It allows qualified military personnel (including those stationed in Iowa or at Rock Island Arsenal), their spouses, dependent children, and survivors (spouses/children of deceased veterans) to be classified as Iowa residents for undergraduate tuition and fees at public colleges and universities. To qualify, military members must be stationed in Iowa or have filed an Iowa tax return recently, while survivors must be the spouse or child of a veteran meeting specific federal benefit criteria. The bill clarifies that dependents remain eligible if they maintain continuous enrollment during military relocations. It directly affects active-duty service members, veterans, and their families enrolled in Iowa's public higher education institutions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands in-state tuition access for military-connected students, reducing costs and enhancing affordability at public colleges and universities.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExpands in-state tuition benefits to include survivors (spouses/children) of deceased veterans, directly advancing veteran family support through education access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Military Families Veteran Education

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 3, 2026

HF 96: A bill for an act establishing the advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement competitive scholar program within the college student aid commission and making appropriations.

HF 96 establishes a tuition reimbursement program for Iowa teachers pursuing an advanced dyslexia specialist certification. It provides up to 75% of tuition costs (capped at two years) to teachers working in Iowa schools or area education agencies who are obtaining this specialized certification. The program, funded with $335,000 for fiscal year 2025-2026, requires annual applications and verification of current teaching status. Teachers must apply each year and complete the certification process to receive payments, with the first payment after year one and the second after year two. The College Student Aid Commission administers the program and reports annually on participation and outcomes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $335,000 from state budget for teacher dyslexia specialist program, directly funding an educational initiative through appropriations.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill funds tuition for teachers pursuing dyslexia specialist certification ($335k appropriation), directly supporting educator professional development and addressing student learning needs in K-12 education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 24, 2025

HF 154: A bill for an act providing for a waiver of undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees and a stipend at regents institutions for Iowa residents who receive the maximum score on certain standardized tests.

HF 154 would waive undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees at Iowa's public universities for Iowa residents who achieve the highest possible score on the ACT or SAT college readiness assessments. It also provides a $5,000 semester stipend to qualifying students. To receive these benefits, students must submit score documentation and maintain satisfactory academic progress toward graduation. The bill directly affects high-scoring Iowa students at regents institutions, creating a new financial aid pathway tied to standardized test performance.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill waives tuition and provides stipend for high-scoring students at regents institutions, directly expanding access to higher education and increasing financial support for students.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid Testing & Assessment

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 17, 2025

SF 250: A bill for an act creating a rural attorney recruitment assistance program, and making appropriations.

SF 250 creates a program to help rural Iowa counties and municipalities recruit attorneys by offering financial incentives. It targets areas with populations under 26,000 located more than 20 miles from a city of 50,000+ residents. Eligible attorneys receive annual tuition reimbursements (90% of University of Iowa law school costs) over five years, with counties covering 35% of the cost. The program limits participation to five attorneys and requires them to work full-time in the area for five years while providing legal services to low-income residents.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides tuition reimbursement for law students at University of Iowa, directly supporting higher education funding through targeted financial aid.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 5, 2025

SF 241: A bill for an act prohibiting a court from ordering payment of a postsecondary education subsidy for a child under a dissolution of marriage temporary order or final judgment or decree, and providing for application to existing orders, judgments, and decrees.

This bill prohibits courts from requiring either parent to pay for a child's postsecondary education (like college or career training) in divorce or custody orders. It directly affects parents in divorce cases involving children aged 18-22 who are attending school. The key provision (Section 598.21F) states courts "shall not order" such payments in temporary orders or final judgments. The law applies only to new or pending orders after July 1, 2025, and does not change existing orders made before that date.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill removes court-ordered parent funding for postsecondary education, restricting a source of financial support for students in divorce cases.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Iowa · House Mar 7, 2025

HSB 61: A bill for an act prohibiting community colleges from establishing diversity, equity, and inclusion offices and engaging in certain other activities relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

This bill prohibits Iowa community colleges from creating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices or conducting specific DEI-related activities, such as requiring DEI statements from individuals or offering preferential treatment based on such statements. It extends existing restrictions (currently applying to other public universities) to cover all community colleges under Iowa Code chapter 261J. The bill allows exceptions for federal law or accreditation requirements and mandates annual compliance reports to the governor and legislature. Community colleges would directly face these restrictions, impacting how they structure campus programs and hiring practices.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationProhibits DEI offices and activities in community colleges, restricting diversity-focused educational programs and curriculum initiatives per bill's explicit language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Iowa · House Apr 16, 2025

HSB 329: A bill for an act providing for a waiver of tuition and mandatory fees at regents institutions and community colleges for peace officers and their legal dependents and making appropriations.

HSB 329 establishes a program to waive tuition and mandatory fees at Iowa's regent institutions and community colleges. This waiver is available to eligible peace officers and their legal dependents who are Iowa residents. Peace officers must be certified and pursuing a law enforcement-related degree, while legal dependents must agree to reside in Iowa for five years post-graduation. Both groups can receive the waiver for up to three years. The bill also creates a state fund to reimburse educational institutions for the cost of these waivers.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProvides tuition waivers for law enforcement officers and dependents, directly funding and strengthening the law enforcement component of criminal justice.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides tuition waiver for peace officers and dependents at public colleges, expanding higher education access for targeted group through state funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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