This bill requires Iowa public schools serving grades 7-12 to include suicide prevention resources on their websites, specifically the contact information and internet address for "Your Life Iowa" or its successor program. Schools issuing student ID cards to grades 5-12 must also display crisis hotline numbers and the program's website on the cards. The law directly affects public schools in those grade levels by mandating the inclusion of these resources as accessible tools for students. It does not create new programs but ensures existing suicide prevention resources are visibly available through school communication channels.
HF 102 requires Iowa schools to train all staff on recognizing seizures and providing first aid by December 2026, with biennial refresher training for those supervising students. Starting July 2025, schools must ensure at least one staff member (or a full-time school nurse) is trained to assist with approved seizure medications or vagus nerve stimulation devices. For students with epilepsy or on seizure medication, schools must create individual health plans and seizure action plans with annual parental authorization. The bill also provides liability protection for schools and staff acting in good faith under these plans.
This bill requires Iowa's Department of Health and Human Services to seek federal approval to expand Medicaid and CHIP coverage for mental health services provided in schools. It ensures all children enrolled in Iowa's Medicaid or CHIP programs - regardless of whether they have a special education plan - can access covered services without needing a formal mental health diagnosis. Covered services include individual, group, and family therapy, prevention services, evaluation, and case management. The bill also mandates collaboration with schools and federal technical assistance to implement these changes, particularly in rural and under-resourced districts.
HF 152 directs Iowa to apply for and participate in the federal Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) for Children program, which provides food assistance to children during summer months when school meals are unavailable. The bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (with Education) to submit an application to the USDA by February 2025 and appropriates state funds to cover administrative costs for the summer 2025 program. It directly affects approximately 240,000 Iowa children eligible for the program, which is funded by an estimated $29 million in federal resources. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment but applies retroactively to July 1, 2024, ensuring state funding covers costs from that date.
This bill requires Iowa school districts to employ either a licensed school nurse or a licensed athletic trainer (under Chapter 152D) to provide student health services starting July 1, 2025, replacing the current requirement for only a school nurse. It affects all public school districts in Iowa, mandating they aim for one provider per 750 students. The bill updates existing code sections to include athletic trainers as qualified personnel and specifies where health-related records must be stored (with the school nurse, athletic trainer, or administrator). These changes align with provisions for health services documentation and staffing in school health policies.
This bill requires all Iowa public school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to publish mental health resources from "your life Iowa" (a state program) on their websites or link to them online. Schools must also collaborate with enrolled students to develop new ways to improve awareness of these mental health resources. The law directly affects students and schools by mandating accessible online resource sharing and student involvement in awareness efforts. It does not change funding or create new services, but standardizes how schools provide mental health information.
HF 223 requires Iowa public schools and accredited nonpublic schools to publish mental health resources provided by "your life Iowa" on their websites or link to those resources. It also mandates that schools partner with enrolled students to develop additional methods for increasing awareness of mental health resources and information. This applies to all school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools in Iowa. The bill creates specific, concrete requirements for resource visibility and student involvement without altering the content of mental health services.
SF 111 requires Iowa schools to ensure staff are trained to assist students with epilepsy or seizure disorders. Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, each school must have at least one trained employee (or full-time school nurse) capable of administering approved seizure medications or medical devices. Schools must provide all staff with seizure recognition and first aid training by December 2026, and obtain annual parent authorization for medication administration. The bill also mandates seizure action plans for affected students and provides liability protection for school staff acting in good faith under these plans. These requirements apply only to schools with students diagnosed with epilepsy or currently taking FDA-approved seizure medication.
HF 555 modifies Iowa school notice requirements for chronically absent students. It changes the method school officials must use to notify parents/guardians or emancipated minors: instead of requiring only certified mail, the bill mandates sending notices via ordinary mail *and* electronic mail (if the school has the email address). The notices must still include details about the child’s absences and school policies on future absences. This bill directly affects school officials who must now use two delivery methods when sending these notices. The change applies to all public schools in Iowa under current chronic absenteeism policies.
HF 665 requires Iowa's public colleges and universities to enhance mental health support for students. It mandates annual mental health awareness sessions during orientation, integration of mental health topics into coursework, and publication of campus mental health resources online. The bill also requires institutions to implement an annual online screening tool for mental health conditions (starting three years after enactment), provide mental health first aid training for resident assistants and advisors, establish peer support programs using student peers, and form partnerships with local mental health providers for referrals. These measures directly affect all students at Iowa's public institutions of higher education.
