Education

in committee · Iowa · House Jan 13, 2026

HF 2002: A bill for an act requiring the legislative council to enter into an agreement with a qualified person to conduct a review of Iowa’s public education system, and including effective date provisions.

HF 2002 requires Iowa's legislative council to hire an independent, nonpartisan reviewer (not affiliated with political parties or school districts) to conduct a comprehensive review of the state's K-12 public education system. The review must examine 30 years of trends, funding sources, school district structures, rural/urban challenges, and international education models, then propose actionable reforms for equitable funding, operational efficiency, and improved student outcomes. The reviewer must provide periodic updates and submit a final report with short- and long-term strategies, including costs and funding sources, to the legislature by January 1, 2027. This bill directly affects all Iowa public schools, teachers, and students by mandating a detailed, evidence-based analysis to inform future education policy decisions. The report will be presented to the legislature and discussed in public forums to gather feedback before implementation.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires independent review to propose reforms for equitable funding, efficiency, and student outcomes, advancing systemic improvement in K-12 education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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died · Iowa · House Mar 9, 2026

HF 2132: A bill for an act providing for a waiver of tuition and mandatory fees at regents institutions for certain veterans with service-connected disabilities.

HF 2132 would require Iowa's public universities (regents institutions) to waive all tuition and mandatory fees for veterans with a 100% service-connected disability rating certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. To qualify, veterans must apply for admission, have exhausted all other federal or state financial aid (like Pell Grants or VA education benefits), and not receive other assistance covering their tuition costs. The bill mandates that institutions prorate the waiver to cover only the gap between other aid received and the full tuition/fees amount. This policy directly affects eligible veterans seeking higher education at Iowa's public universities.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides tuition waiver for veterans with disabilities, expanding access to higher education at public institutions.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransWaives tuition/fees for veterans with 100% service-connected disability, requiring institutions to cover costs after other aid is exhausted. Directly expands educational benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 29, 2026

SF 2006: A bill for an act relating to physical activity requirements applicable to students enrolled in public schools and accredited nonpublic schools.

SF 2006 requires all physically able students in kindergarten through grade five at Iowa public and accredited nonpublic schools to engage in 30 minutes of daily physical activity, separate from physical education classes. The bill specifies that schools cannot prevent this activity unless a student is suspended, absent, poses a safety risk, or circumstances like severe weather or early dismissal occur. Current law allowed physical education to count toward the daily requirement, but this bill explicitly prohibits that. The measure directly affects K-5 students and school districts implementing daily activity plans.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates 30 mins daily physical activity separate from PE, enhancing student health programs in K-5 schools per education topic requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SF 2005: A bill for an act providing for supplementary weighting for school districts that share career and technical education instructors.

This bill adds career and technical education (CTE) instructors to the list of shared operational roles eligible for additional state funding. School districts in Iowa that share CTE instructors (licensed for grades 5-12 in fields like agriculture, business, or IT) with other districts or political subdivisions for at least 20% of the school year will receive a supplementary weighting of two pupils per shared function. This supplemental funding aims to increase resources for student programming by encouraging shared staffing. The bill specifically defines CTE instructors as those holding a valid endorsement or authorization for grades 5-12.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides supplemental state funding (two pupils per shared CTE instructor) to school districts, directly increasing school finance resources for career education programs.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAdds supplementary funding for CTE instructor sharing, increasing resources for student programming in career education.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyFunds IT career education programs via CTE instructor sharing, directly supporting technology workforce development in school districts.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education School Funding

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 30, 2026

HF 2217: A bill for an act relating to radon testing in schools, including responsibilities of nonpublic schools, applicability to charter and innovation zone schools, establishing a school testing and mitigation of radon grant program within the department of education, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.

HF 2217 requires all public school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools in Iowa to test for radon gas in school buildings at least once by July 2027 and every five years thereafter, with testing limited to October-March. It creates a state grant program within the Department of Education to help schools cover the costs of radon testing and mitigation, using funds that remain available year-to-year rather than reverting to the general fund. Schools must follow specific testing protocols and address elevated radon levels (4 picocuries per liter or higher) by conducting follow-up tests or developing mitigation plans. The bill also mandates that testing results be published online and reported to health officials, with grants intended to supplement, not replace, existing school funding for radon-related work.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates state grant program within DOE for radon testing costs, using year-to-year funds to fund school safety program, directly advancing public service funding.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates grant program within Dept. of Education to fund radon testing/mitigation in schools, improving school infrastructure safety for students and staff.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget School Funding

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 22, 2026

SJR 2005: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to the right of all youths of this state to a comprehensive public education.

SJR 2005 is a proposed constitutional amendment requiring Iowa to guarantee all youths a comprehensive public education meeting or exceeding national standards through public schools and qualified educators. It mandates instruction in core subjects including reading, math, science, history, social studies, arts, and human development, as determined by the legislature or education agencies. The resolution, currently referred to a committee after introduction on January 21, 2026, must next be published for three months and referred to the next general assembly before potentially going to voters for ratification. This is a procedural step toward amending Iowa's constitution, not an immediate law.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProposes constitutional guarantee of comprehensive public education meeting national standards, mandating core subjects and qualified educators per bill summary.95% confidence

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 26, 2026

HF 2151: A bill for an act making appropriations to the department of education for the therapeutic classroom incentive grant program.

This bill allocates $5 million from Iowa's general fund to the Department of Education for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to establish a therapeutic classroom incentive grant program. It directly provides funding to school districts to create therapeutic classrooms for students aged 3 to 21 whose emotional, social, or behavioral needs interfere with their success in regular school settings. The program enables school districts to receive grants to set up specialized classrooms designed to support these students' learning and development. The funding is specifically designated for this purpose and cannot be used for other educational programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $5M from general fund to fund therapeutic classrooms program, directly increasing state education budget for public service.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $5M for therapeutic classrooms supporting students with emotional/social needs, directly funding school programs to improve educational access and student support.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill funds therapeutic classrooms for students with emotional/behavioral needs, directly supporting mental health services within schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SF 2133: A bill for an act relating to administrator licenses granted by the board of educational examiners and including applicability provisions.

SF 2133 modifies Iowa's requirements for school administrator licenses. It requires new applicants for an initial administrator license to have taught as a teacher in Iowa for at least five consecutive years (across no more than two school districts) before applying. The bill also mandates that current administrators holding initial or professional licenses must maintain an active teacher license to keep their administrator credential. These rules apply to all new applications and licenses granted after the bill's effective date.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires 5 years teaching experience for admin licenses, strengthening leadership qualifications and maintaining teacher licensure for current admins to ensure classroom expertise in school leadership.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers Tags Licensing

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introduced · Iowa · House Jan 30, 2026

HF 2243: A bill for an act requiring the state board of regents to submit a report to the general assembly and the governor related to establishing a performance-based funding model for the institutions of higher education governed by the state board of regents.

HF 2243 requires Iowa's State Board of Regents to submit a report by November 2026 to the governor and legislature on creating a performance-based funding model for the state's public universities. The report must detail how funding could be tied to specific student outcomes, including graduation rates, degrees in high-demand fields, post-graduation employment and income, and whether graduates remain in Iowa. This bill directly affects Iowa's public universities governed by the State Board of Regents. The model would use these five measurable factors to guide potential funding decisions, though the bill itself does not implement the funding changes - only mandates the report.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires performance-based funding report linking university funding to outcomes like graduation rates and employment, aiming to improve higher education effectiveness and resource allocation.85% confidence

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 19, 2026

HSB 533: A bill for an act authorizing community colleges to offer a degree program that leads to a baccalaureate degree.

This bill, the REACH Act, allows Iowa community colleges to offer bachelor's degree programs for the first time, directly affecting students seeking four-year degrees without transferring to a university. To qualify, programs must address high-demand local job needs (verified by employers and job vacancies) and require in-person or hybrid instruction - not entirely online. Community colleges must follow state oversight rules for these programs, and Iowa residents enrolled in them pay up to 150% of standard community college tuition rates. The bill amends existing law to expand community college offerings while ensuring alignment with regional workforce demands.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllows community colleges to offer bachelor's degrees for high-demand jobs, expanding access to four-year degree pathways without university transfer, directly increasing educational opportunities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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