Education (Higher Education)

signed · Iowa · Senate May 6, 2025

SF 513: 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 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.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill prohibits courts from ordering postsecondary education subsidies for children 18-22, restricting financial support for higher education in divorce cases.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 10, 2026

SF 2228: A bill for an act relating to school district funding provisions, including reducing the foundation property tax and repealing the education savings account program, and including effective date and applicability provisions.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesReduces school district property tax rate by $1.00 per $1,000, providing tax relief while repealing education savings accounts to redirect funds.95% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationReduces school funding via lower property tax rate (from $5.44 to $4.44) and repeals private school funding program, directly cutting public education resources.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Tax Credits Higher Education School Choice School Funding

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passed · Iowa · House Mar 19, 2026

HF 2487: A bill for an act concerning restrictions on certain activities relating to diversity, equity, inclusion, and critical race theory by state entities and public institutions of higher education.

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.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts curriculum content on DEI/CRT in higher education courses, limiting academic freedom and required educational content per bill's explicit language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 16, 2026

SF 2321: A bill for an act repealing the education savings account program.

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.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill repeals state-funded education savings account program, removing it from law and adjusting school finance to exclude voucher users, directly defunding this spending program and reducing government expenditure.95% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRepeals state-funded vouchers for private schools, removing public funding from nonpublic education programs.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education School Choice

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SF 2303: A bill for an act providing for a review of undergraduate general education requirements and core curricula at regents institutions and authorizing elimination of certain required courses and course requirements.

SF 2303 requires Iowa's state board of regents to review all undergraduate general education requirements and core curricula at public universities (regents institutions) by fall 2028. The review specifically directs institutions to identify required courses containing diversity, equity, inclusion, or critical race theory-related content, with the board having discretion to order the elimination of such courses. The board must establish all necessary policies by December 31, 2026, to implement this review process. This bill directly affects course requirements at Iowa's public universities and aims to modify general education curricula through a state-mandated review.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill mandates review to identify and potentially eliminate DEI/CRT-related courses, restricting curriculum content and academic freedom in higher education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SF 2176: A bill for an act relating to the district-to-community college sharing or concurrent enrollment program.

This bill requires students (or their parents/guardians if the student is a minor) to reimburse school districts if they fail a community college course taken through the district-to-community college concurrent enrollment program. Specifically, if a student fails a class offered by a community college or taught by a community college instructor, the school district can request payment equal to the amount it paid the college for that student's participation. The reimbursement applies only to the district's direct costs for that specific course, not to the student's regular tuition or fees. This policy directly affects high school students in Iowa's concurrent enrollment programs who fail a college-level course.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRequires student reimbursement for failed community college courses, creating financial barriers that limit program access and participation in concurrent enrollment.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education

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passed · Iowa · House Mar 16, 2026

HF 2488: A bill for an act prohibiting private institutions of higher education that participate in the Iowa tuition grant program from establishing diversity, equity, and inclusion offices.

HF 2488 prohibits private colleges in Iowa that receive Iowa Tuition Grants from establishing or maintaining Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) offices. The bill defines a DEI office as any unit creating or promoting policies related to race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation, but excludes legal compliance offices, academic departments, student recruitment, and student organizations. Private institutions violating this could lose eligibility for the tuition grant program starting the next academic year. The law allows institutions to report disputes to the attorney general, who can suspend grant access if violations aren't resolved within 30 days.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationProhibits DEI offices at private colleges receiving tuition grants, restricting diversity initiatives in higher education curricula and campus policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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signed · Iowa · House Apr 30, 2026

HF 2539: A bill for an act repealing certain programs and other matters relating to higher education.

HF 2539 repeals multiple existing higher education programs and administrative requirements in Iowa. It specifically eliminates the Regent’s Minority and Women Educators Enhancement Program, the College Bound program, laboratory schools, and related reporting obligations. The bill also modifies a reporting requirement for the college student aid commission regarding program implementation. These changes remove specific state-funded initiatives and streamline administrative processes for institutions governed by the state board of regents.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRepeals state-funded higher education programs (Minority Educators, College Bound), eliminating funding and initiatives supporting access/diversity in higher education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

vetoed · Iowa · Senate Jun 2, 2026

SF 2299: A bill for an act relating to the district-to-community college sharing or concurrent enrollment program.

This bill requires students (or their parents/guardians if minors) to reimburse school districts for community college courses taken through concurrent enrollment programs if the student fails the course. Specifically, if a student fails a class offered by a community college or taught by its instructor, the school district can request payment equal to the amount it paid the college for that specific course. The policy applies to high school students enrolled in Iowa's district-to-community college sharing program, which allows them to earn college credits while in high school. This change modifies existing rules under Code section 261E.8 to shift the financial responsibility for failed courses back to the student or family.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationImposes financial penalty for course failure, restricting access to concurrent enrollment programs by creating disincentive for students to participate.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 9, 2026

SF 2060: A bill for an act relating to eligibility standards for certain education programs and tax provisions based on religious or sectarian use or purpose, and including retroactive applicability provisions.

This bill modifies Iowa's education and tax laws to ensure public funding for educational programs excludes religious instruction. It defines "property" to exclude facilities used for sectarian teaching, worship, or religious training, and requires courses for high school students taking college credit to be nonsectarian. School districts must verify comparable nonreligious courses aren't available before allowing students to enroll in eligible college courses at community colleges. Textbook funding for nonpublic schools must be for nonreligious materials, and districts must annually approve courses for academic rigor. The bill affects public school districts, community colleges, and accredited nonpublic schools in Iowa.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill restricts public funding for religious instruction by modifying tax laws, excluding sectarian facilities and requiring nonsectarian courses. This defunds religious use of public funds, directly limiting government spending per tax provisions.90% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts public funding for religious instruction in education programs, excluding sectarian use from tax provisions and requiring nonsectarian courses.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Higher Education K-12 Education

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