Education

signed · Iowa · House May 6, 2026

HF 703: A bill for an act concerning information regarding certain state and federal student loan programs.

HF 703, the "Increasing Student Financial Aid Awareness Act," requires Iowa's Student Loan Liquidity Corporation to provide the Bureau of Iowa College Aid with annual estimates of federal direct PLUS loan interest rates and comparisons between state and federal loan terms. The Bureau must analyze this data to determine if Iowa's college family or partnership loans offer lower interest rates than federal PLUS loans. If they do, the Bureau must publish a clear online statement explaining this difference and require all Iowa colleges to include this information in financial aid offers to students. This bill directly affects Iowa students, families, and higher education institutions by improving transparency around loan options and ensuring they receive standardized comparisons of state and federal student loan rates.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationPromotes educational access by informing students of lower-cost state loan options, reducing financial barriers to higher education85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

passed · Iowa · House Mar 26, 2026

HF 175: A bill for an act relating to in-state residency for purposes of undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees at regents institutions and community colleges for certain military personnel and family members.

HF 175 changes Iowa's tuition rules to allow certain military families to qualify for in-state tuition rates at public colleges. It directly affects active-duty military members stationed in Iowa, their spouses and children, veterans eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, and survivors of deceased veterans. The bill creates new definitions that let these groups be classified as Iowa residents for tuition purposes if they meet specific criteria, such as having the military member stationed in Iowa, filing Iowa taxes, or claiming dependents on tax returns. Spouses and children can maintain in-state status even if the military member is transferred, as long as they stay enrolled continuously. This policy change aims to reduce tuition costs for military-connected students without altering residency requirements for other students.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands higher education access for military families by enabling in-state tuition rates at public colleges, directly increasing affordability and access to postsecondary education.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill grants in-state tuition benefits to veterans eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill, directly expanding educational benefits for veterans as part of its core provisions.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

Track

signed · Iowa · House Jun 27, 2025

HF 189: A bill for an act relating to the eligibility of students enrolled in nonpublic schools to compete in extracurricular interscholastic athletic contests or competitions provided by public schools, and including effective date provisions.

HF 189 allows students enrolled in nonpublic schools (like private or religious schools) to compete in public school athletic programs. The bill establishes eligibility rules for these students to participate in interscholastic sports and competitions organized by public schools. It became law when the Governor signed it on June 6, 2025, directly affecting nonpublic school students and public school athletic departments. The law modifies existing rules to expand participation opportunities for this specific student group.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands athletic program access for nonpublic school students, enhancing educational opportunities in school activities per bill's intent to include more students in public school competitions.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

passed · Iowa · House Jun 16, 2025

HF 389: A bill for an act relating to student abuse by school employees.

HF 389 creates a new process for investigating student abuse by school employees in Iowa. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services (DHS) to investigate reports within 24 hours and complete investigations within 30 business days. Schools must immediately place accused employees (including teachers, vendors, and volunteers) on administrative leave during investigations, and must terminate employment if DHS confirms abuse. This directly affects public and nonpublic schools, their employees, and the DHS, replacing current procedures with a standardized, time-bound system for handling such reports.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates swift investigations and termination of abusive school employees, directly protecting student safety in educational settings.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

Track

signed · Iowa · Senate May 27, 2025

SF 278: A bill for an act relating to robotics extracurricular activities, including requiring the department of education to provide technical assistance to school districts related to chartering career and technical student organizations related to robotics and authorizing high school athletic organizations to sponsor interscholastic contests related to robotics.

SF 278 requires the state Department of Education to provide technical assistance to school districts seeking to establish robotics-focused career and technical student organizations (CTSOs). It also authorizes high school athletic associations to sponsor interscholastic robotics competitions. The bill directly affects public high schools, students participating in robotics programs, and school administrators managing career and technical education. Key provisions create a structured pathway for schools to develop robotics clubs and integrate them into existing athletic or career-focused competition frameworks.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires DOE technical assistance for robotics CTSOs and authorizes competitions, expanding career-focused extracurricular opportunities in K-12 education.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Iowa · House May 27, 2025

HF 835: A bill for an act relating to school personnel training, including by implementing provisions related to emergency care planning, authorizations for assisting, and limitations of liability concerning students with epilepsy or seizure disorder, and requiring the department of education to convene a health care-related training for school personnel work group.

HF 835 requires schools to train personnel on emergency care for students with epilepsy or seizure disorders. It mandates specific emergency care planning, authorizes staff to assist students during seizures, and limits their liability when acting in good faith. The bill also directs the Department of Education to form a work group to develop health care training standards for school staff. These changes directly affect school personnel and students with seizure disorders across the state.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates school staff training for student seizure emergencies, enhancing safety and access for students with epilepsy, directly supporting educational environment95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Iowa · House May 27, 2025

HF 865: A bill for an act modifying provisions related to the harassment or bullying of students enrolled in school districts or accredited nonpublic schools.

HF 865 modifies how Minnesota school districts and accredited nonpublic schools address student harassment or bullying. It updates existing policies to clarify procedures for reporting, investigating, and responding to incidents. The bill directly affects students and school staff by changing the framework for handling these cases within schools. As signed into law on May 27, 2025, it establishes concrete requirements for school districts to follow regarding harassment and bullying prevention and response.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill strengthens student safety protocols by clarifying bullying/harassment reporting and response procedures in schools, directly protecting students and improving school environment.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Iowa · House May 27, 2025

HF 393: A bill for an act relating to the Iowa school performance profiles published by the department of education, including how dropout students affect school performance grades contained in the profiles.

HF 393 modifies how Iowa schools calculate performance grades by excluding students who drop out from certain school performance profile metrics. This change directly affects Iowa public schools and their published performance ratings, which are used to inform parents and the public. The bill alters the Department of Education's methodology to ensure dropout rates do not negatively impact a school's overall grade. It became law after passing the Senate unanimously and receiving the Governor's signature on May 27, 2025. The policy change specifically adjusts how student enrollment data is processed for grading purposes.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExcludes dropouts from performance metrics to prevent negative school ratings, protecting schools from unfair penalization under education performance profiles.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Iowa · Senate May 19, 2025

SF 167: A bill for an act relating to school funding by establishing the state percent of growth and the categorical state percent of growth for the budget year beginning July 1, 2025, modifying provisions relating to the property tax replacement payments, modifying provisions relating to the regular program state cost per pupil and funding for shared operational functions, and including effective date provisions.

SF 167 is a school funding bill that establishes the state's funding increase rates for the budget year beginning July 1, 2025, covering both general and specific categorical programs. It modifies provisions related to property tax replacement payments, which help offset local property taxes for schools. The bill also adjusts the regular program state cost per pupil, which is the base amount of state funding provided for each student. Finally, it modifies funding mechanisms for shared operational functions among school districts.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes state funding increases for schools, modifies property tax replacement to offset local taxes, and adjusts per-pupil costs - directly funding public education through budget mechanisms.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes state funding increase rates for schools, adjusts per-pupil costs, and modifies property tax replacement payments to support school budgets and state aid.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Iowa · House May 6, 2025

HF 295: A bill for an act relating to accreditation of postsecondary educational institutions, prohibiting adverse action by accrediting agencies against certain postsecondary educational institutions for compliance with state law, providing remedies, and including effective date provisions.

This bill, known as the "Accreditation Autonomy Act," primarily affects Iowa's public colleges and universities and their accrediting agencies. It updates several state laws to recognize any federally recognized accreditor for various educational programs and institutions, rather than just a specific commission. The bill prohibits accrediting agencies from taking negative actions against public institutions for complying with Iowa state law or refusing to violate it. If an accrediting agency violates this provision, the affected institution, with the Attorney General's authorization, can pursue a civil lawsuit for injunctive relief and financial damages.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill protects public institutions from adverse accreditation actions for complying with state law, enhancing institutional autonomy and stability in higher education.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education