SF 2404 Iowa Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

A bill for an act requiring the department of education to develop and administer a pilot program that requires certain specified school districts to establish attendance centers for students requiring special education and students with behavioral issues.

SF 2404 requires Iowa's Department of Education to create a pilot program where one rural school district (defined by specific population criteria) and one urban school district (with at least 7,000 students) must establish specialized attendance centers. These centers will provide educational and special education services to eligible students, including those needing special education or facing behavioral challenges that interfere with regular classroom success. The bill mandates annual reporting on participation, academic outcomes, and stakeholder feedback from participating districts, and requires at least 48% of special education funds to support the pilot. The program is set to expire on July 1, 2031.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 19, 2026 Last action Mar 18, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Reprinted · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was reprinted with significant amendments that changed how the pilot program operates. Key changes include adding a voluntary participation requirement where districts must agree to participate and demonstrate funding ability, or receive full state funding, rather than being mandated to participate. The bill also consolidated formatting and removed some explanatory text while maintaining the core requirement for attendance centers serving special education and behavioral needs students.
Scope change
The bill's scope was modified to make participation voluntary rather than mandatory, requiring districts to either agree to participate with proof of funding capability or receive full state funding for participation.
REQUIREMENT

Changed from mandatory participation to voluntary participation requiring district agreement and funding capability demonstration

FISCAL

Added provision for full state funding of pilot program participation if districts choose to participate

TECHNICAL

Consolidated formatting and removed explanatory text while maintaining substantive policy provisions

TIMELINE

Maintained July 1, 2031 repeal date for the pilot program section

Floor votes · Senate Mar 10, 2026

How they voted

3311
Passed · 5 other
Total votes 49
Mar 10, 2026
D Democratic15
3 Yea 11 Nay 1
73% Nay
R Republican34
30 Yea 4
88% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
10
Key actions
2
Committee
1
Amendments
2
Mar 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate, yeas 32, nays 13.
upper
Mar 10, 2026
Introduced
Amendment S-5084 filed, ruled out of order.
upper
Mar 10, 2026
Introduced
Amendment S-5095 filed, adopted.
upper
Feb 19, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee report, approving bill.
upper
Feb 19, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, placed on calendar.
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.