This bill establishes a new fee structure for wire transmissions, which are defined as money transfers sent to or from locations outside the United States. Financial institutions and their authorized representatives must collect a $5 fee for transfers of $500 or less, plus an additional 2% charge on amounts exceeding $500. The collected fees are submitted quarterly to the state Department of Revenue, with 10% directed to the office to combat human trafficking and the remainder deposited into the state's general fund. The Department of Revenue, working with the Department of Public Safety, is responsible for enforcing compliance, and may recommend license suspensions or revocations for non-payment.
This bill requires Iowa school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to adopt policies by July 1, 2025, that restrict student use of personal electronic devices during classroom instructional time. The Department of Education will develop model policies for schools to consider. These policies must identify methods for parents to communicate with students during school hours and emergencies, establish disciplinary actions for violations, and outline secure storage protocols for devices. They must also include provisions allowing students to maintain access to devices for legitimate physical or mental health reasons, or as required by an individualized education program (IEP) or 504 plan. Additionally, school districts are mandated to revise their emergency operations plans by July 1, 2025, to align with these new policies on electronic device use.
HSB 719 establishes a competitive grant program within Iowa's Department of Education to help schools develop cardiac emergency response plans. It requires participating schools (including public districts, nonpublic schools, and charters) to implement specific safety measures like placing AEDs accessible within three minutes, training staff in CPR/AED use, and conducting annual emergency drills. The grants, funded through a new state treasury account, offset costs for creating these plans but must supplement, not replace, existing school funding. The program applies to all schools starting with the 2027-2028 school year.
HR 110 is a non-binding resolution expressing the House of Representatives' support for the "Phoenix Declaration," a set of educational principles. It does not create new laws or policies but formally endorses the declaration's emphasis on parental choice in education, transparency in schools, teaching foundational American history and values, and curricular focus on core subjects and character development. The resolution directly affects congressional record-keeping and symbolic recognition, not actual school operations or funding. It has no concrete policy impact beyond stating the House's belief in these educational principles.
HF 2538 modifies Iowa's school performance grading system and student discipline rules. It requires schools to calculate performance grades using metrics like safety efforts (including suspending students for "disorderly conduct" like threats or classroom disruptions), academic growth, attendance, and parental engagement. The bill authorizes teachers to immediately exclude disruptive students from their classrooms and request principal involvement, with specific rules for repeat offenses (e.g., three exclusions in 30 days triggering suspension). It also mandates that charter and innovation zone schools follow the same discipline procedures as traditional school districts and allows teachers to request Individualized Education Program (IEP) team meetings for students with behavioral issues.
HF 2382 establishes a state grant program within Iowa's Department of Education to help school districts cover costs for hiring or keeping school resource officers (SROs), as defined by federal law. School districts must contribute a 1:1 match (e.g., $1 for every $1 granted) and may receive up to $12,000 per SRO per grant. The program is funded by a $480,000 appropriation for fiscal year 2026-2027, with grants awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Funds must supplement, not replace, existing district funding for similar SRO costs.
HF 2050 requires Iowa school districts to adopt policies allowing teachers to immediately remove students who disrupt classes, threaten safety, or violate school rules. After a third removal, teachers and principals must discuss behavior patterns and hold a conference with the student (and parent/guardian if applicable) before the student returns to class. The bill also protects teachers from retaliation by administrators for following these discipline policies. It takes effect on December 31, 2026, and directly affects students, teachers, and school administrators in Iowa public schools.
SF 2044 requires Iowa school districts and charter schools to adopt specific discipline policies for students causing violent or nonviolent disruptions. These policies must include behavior correction strategies, require parent consent before counseling, and establish placement review committees to determine when students can return to classrooms after removal. Schools must also provide alternatives like therapeutic classrooms, document individualized education plans for students with disabilities, and comply with federal disability and privacy laws. The bill standardizes discipline approaches while ensuring schools address disruptions through structured, documented processes.
SF 2061 creates a dedicated fund within Iowa's state treasury to provide competitive grants for school safety and security infrastructure projects at accredited nonpublic schools. Starting fiscal year 2027, $1 million annually will be transferred from the Secure an Advanced Vision for Education Fund into this new program. The Department of Education will administer the grant program, using funds exclusively for defined safety infrastructure improvements at eligible nonpublic schools, with unawarded funds rolling over to future years. The bill establishes clear rules for grant eligibility, application processes, and project types without specifying outcomes or policy preferences.
This bill amends Iowa's school infrastructure funding law to allow school districts to use SAVE Fund money for increased insurance costs tied to hiring individuals with professional permits to carry weapons under Iowa Code §724.6(1)(a)(3). It directly affects school districts by expanding the definition of "school infrastructure" to include these specific insurance expenses. The key mechanism is updating the statutory definition to explicitly cover such costs, making them eligible for reimbursement from the SAVE Fund. The bill does not create new requirements but clarifies existing fund usage for a defined category of insurance expenses.
