Iowa Bills

HF 898 modifies Iowa's school attendance laws to exempt children undergoing military entrance processing or currently engaged in military service from compulsory school attendance requirements. This directly affects minors who are preparing for military service (like taking physical exams or completing paperwork) or who are actively serving in the military. The bill adds these two specific exemptions to the existing list of allowable absences, which already includes graduation completion, court excused absences, religious instruction, and other defined cases. The change allows these children to miss school without penalty for military-related obligations, aligning attendance rules with their service commitments.

This bill (HF 646) allows nonambulatory Iowa residents to hunt deer with specific firearms during designated firearm deer hunting seasons using a special "any sex" license. It requires applicants to provide a physician-signed form verifying their nonambulatory status and limits the license to one season (if a deer tag is filled during that season). Currently, nonambulatory hunters could use these firearms during any deer hunting season, but this bill restricts their use to only established firearm seasons. The change applies solely to hunting regulations for Iowa residents with mobility challenges seeking deer hunting permits.

HF 576 requires Iowa institutions of higher education (including state-regulated and accredited private colleges) to adopt policies prohibiting nonimmigrant visa holders (such as F-1, M-1, or J-1 students and staff) from publicly supporting terrorist activities or organizations, as defined by federal law. If an institution suspects a violation, it must investigate and may suspend students for at least one year or permanently expel them (or terminate staff employment) for a second offense. Institutions must then update federal student visa records to reflect the action and prohibit affected individuals from transferring to other Iowa institutions. The Attorney General enforces the law and can deny state tuition grants to institutions failing to comply.

HF 577 would provide Iowa residents attending regents institutions with a full tuition and mandatory fee waiver plus a $5,000 per semester stipend if they score the maximum possible on the ACT, SAT, or Classic Learning Test. To qualify, students must submit score documentation and maintain satisfactory academic progress toward graduation. The bill applies specifically to Iowa residents enrolled at the state's regents universities and requires the Board of Regents to administer the program. This policy directly affects high-achieving Iowa students seeking undergraduate education at public universities.

HF 868 requires Iowa's Department of Education to conduct a feasibility study on establishing a state-regulated institution of higher education (offering undergraduate and graduate programs) in Pottawattamie County or a neighboring county. The study must evaluate potential locations, propose tentative timelines for establishment, and analyze key requirements for implementation. The department may consult with relevant agencies and stakeholders, and must submit findings and recommendations to the governor and legislature by December 31, 2025. This bill does not create the institution but mandates a formal assessment to inform future decisions.

HF 854 prohibits private colleges participating in Iowa's tuition grant program from establishing, sustaining, or staffing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices. The bill allows exceptions for academic courses, student organization activities, research, health services, and compliance with federal law or accreditation standards. Violations could result in loss of tuition grant eligibility, requiring institutions to correct issues within 30 days or face exclusion from the program. This directly affects private higher education institutions receiving state tuition aid, with enforcement handled through the attorney general's office.

HF 699 clarifies that certain drug-checking tools and materials are not considered "drug paraphernalia" under Iowa law. It specifically exempts fentanyl/xylazine test strips, drug-checking equipment, and related materials used by harm reduction organizations for testing substances. The bill protects individuals and organizations from criminal charges, civil penalties, or loss of housing for using these tools or conducting drug checks. It also allows state funds, including opioid settlement money, to support these harm reduction activities.

HF 308 establishes an annual 31-day open enrollment period for Medicare supplement insurance, beginning March 1 each year starting January 1, 2026. It directly affects individuals seeking Medicare supplement policies, including those under 65 who qualify for Medicare due to disability, end-stage renal disease, or environmental hazard exposure. During this period, insurers must offer at least one policy without denying coverage, charging higher premiums based on health status, or excluding preexisting conditions. Insurers are also required to provide applicants with notice of this enrollment period as directed by the Iowa Insurance Commissioner.

HF 866 amends Iowa law to allow agricultural property owners or tenants outside city limits to take geese on their land without prior permission if they deem the geese a nuisance, expanding an existing exception that already covers raccoons, opossums, and skunks. The bill permits destruction or temporary possession using methods like cage traps or shooting, but only for geese not protected under federal law (like those covered by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act). It does not create a new hunting season but allows landowners to address geese causing damage during non-hunting periods. The bill applies specifically to nuisance management on agricultural properties, excluding federally protected species.

HF 867 requires Iowa's tuition grant program to allocate at least 50% of annual funds to students pursuing academic majors linked to high-wage, high-demand jobs. The bill mandates the workforce development board, in collaboration with Iowa's independent colleges and universities, to create and update a list of qualifying jobs based on specific criteria: entry-level salaries of $40,000+, bachelor's degrees or teaching licenses, and either 250+ annual job openings or 1% annual growth. This list must be reviewed biennially to determine which majors qualify for the funding. The policy directly affects Iowa students receiving tuition grants who enroll in majors on this approved list.

HF 520 increases Iowa's required social studies curriculum for grades 9-12 by mandating one full unit of United States government instruction (up from one-half unit), replacing the current standard. It requires all students in public school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to complete this instruction, which must cover voting procedures, the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, and civics. The bill also specifies that U.S. government instruction must include an assessment of students' knowledge of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. This requirement applies to all affected schools starting with the 2026-2027 school year.

HF 855 prohibits Iowa community colleges from establishing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices or requiring DEI statements for staff or students. It extends existing restrictions from Iowa Code chapter 261J - which already bans preferential treatment based on DEI statements at public universities - to all community colleges. The bill exempts activities required by federal law or accreditation standards and maintains annual reporting requirements to the legislature. This directly affects all Iowa community colleges by restricting specific DEI-related activities.