This bill primarily adjusts state funding for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, setting a specific limit on reimbursements for nonpublic school transportation and eliminating state aid for instructional support. It authorizes the use of federal incentive payments for unemployment insurance administration and directs unspent pandemic relief funds into an information technology fund to support Medicaid, child support, and other digital modernization projects. Additionally, the legislation allows salary adjustments for various departments to be funded from unappropriated special funds and establishes a new grant to support a nutrition program for SNAP recipients at local markets.
HF 2800 is a comprehensive state budget bill that sets spending limits and allocates funds for various government programs and services for the fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027. The legislation directly affects state agencies, school districts, and recipients of public assistance by capping reimbursement for nonpublic school transportation, eliminating instructional support state aid, and directing specific sums to workforce development, health information technology, and nutrition programs. Key provisions include allowing salary adjustments for state employees using unspent money from special funds, transferring pandemic relief balances to an information technology fund, and establishing rules for how certain funds can be carried over to future years. Additionally, the bill authorizes the use of federal incentive payments for unemployment insurance modernization and provides grants to support fresh produce access for SNAP recipients.
SSB 3199 is a comprehensive budget bill that sets spending limits and authorizes funds for various state programs and agencies for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The legislation directly affects state departments, school districts, and specific programs by capping payments for nonpublic school transportation, eliminating state aid for instructional support, and allocating millions of dollars for IT modernization in health and human services. It also allows salary adjustments for certain employees using unspent money from special funds, creates a new grant to support healthy eating options for SNAP recipients, and changes rules so some unspent funds can be used in future years rather than returning to the general fund. Additionally, the bill adjusts funding for workforce development, sports wagering, and apprenticeship programs while clarifying how certain federal grants are managed.
This bill prohibits courts from ordering parents in divorce proceedings to pay a "postsecondary education subsidy" for their children. A postsecondary education subsidy refers to financial support for educational expenses for children aged 18-22 attending career training, college, university, or community college. This means courts can no longer include requirements for college or vocational school financial support in new or pending divorce orders. The bill applies to divorce orders entered or pending on or after July 1, 2025. However, it specifically states that existing orders established before July 1, 2025, that already include such subsidies cannot be modified based on this new law.
This bill defines "sex" in Iowa law as a person's biological sex observed or clinically verified at birth, based on reproductive systems, and specifies that "gender" is a synonym for "sex" rather than "gender identity." It requires birth certificates to designate sex based on this definition at birth and eliminates the ability to change a person's sex designation on their birth certificate. The bill clarifies that state
This bill modifies Iowa's education savings account program eligibility. For the 2025 school year (starting July 1, 2025), it maintains current rules allowing nonpublic school students (K-12) to receive payments. Starting July 1, 2026, it adds an income requirement: households must earn 400% or less of the U.S. federal poverty income guidelines to qualify. The change directly affects families with children attending nonpublic schools who seek these state-funded education savings accounts. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.
This bill lowers the statewide school district foundation property tax rate from $5.44 to $4.44 per $1,000 of assessed property value, effective July 1, 2026. It also repeals Iowa’s education savings account program, which allowed families to use public funds for private school tuition. The tax rate change directly affects all Iowa school districts and adjusts tax credit calculations for agricultural landowners under existing family farm tax credit programs. The bill’s provisions apply to school budgets beginning July 1, 2026, with phased increases for reorganized school districts.
This bill requires Iowa's educator licensing board to deny or revoke licenses for educators who publicly express approval of politically motivated violence, such as the killing of Charles J. Kirk. It defines "celebrate" as publicly stating phrases like "good riddance" or "one less fascist," and a single verified instance of such expression - via social media, public statements, or any public medium - would trigger license denial or revocation. The law specifies that this applies if the celebration demonstrates moral unfitness, risks disrupting schools, or undermines public trust in educators. However, it explicitly prohibits license revocation solely for protected First Amendment speech, such as political expression, unless it involves celebrating violence. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment and applies retroactively to September 10, 2025.
HF 2487 restricts state entities and public higher education institutions in Iowa from requiring content related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and critical race theory in undergraduate general education courses. It mandates that the state board of regents review all such required courses by fall 2028, identify those containing this content, and have discretion to direct institutions to eliminate them. The bill empowers the attorney general to investigate alleged violations, issue subpoenas for records, and seek enforcement through courts, with institutions required to reimburse legal costs. It also sets a December 2026 deadline for the board to establish required policies.
This bill repeals Iowa's education savings account program, which provided state-funded vouchers to families for nonpublic school expenses like tuition, tutoring, and learning materials. It removes the program from state law (repealing Section 257.11B) and adjusts related funding calculations in school finance codes to exclude students who previously used these accounts. The program directly affected families enrolling children in nonpublic schools who received these state-funded payments. The bill makes no new funding changes but eliminates the program's structure and its impact on school district cost formulas.
