This Iowa bill modifies property tax rules and budget limits for state and local governments, affecting cities, counties, and other public entities that levy property taxes. It establishes a new cap on general fund reserves, limiting unassigned funds to 35% of prior year expenditures starting in fiscal year 2027, and creates a new property tax levy limit that allows annual increases of up to 102% for existing property valuations. The legislation also updates audit requirements for local governments, clarifies how unliquidated obligations are recorded, and excludes school districts from certain reserve and levy limitation provisions.
This bill modifies Iowa's education savings account program by expanding eligibility for nonpublic school students based on household income levels over a three-year period. Starting in 2027, families earning up to 400% of the federal poverty guidelines qualify for the program, with eligibility tightening to 300% of the poverty threshold by 2028. The legislation also adjusts how school districts calculate funding costs for various teacher and professional development supplements by including ESA payments in enrollment counts. The education savings account program is scheduled to be completely repealed on July 1, 2029, with related funding calculations taking effect in 2030.
This bill allocates state funding for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to support the Department for the Blind, Department of Education, and State Board of Regents in Iowa. It provides specific amounts for various programs including early childhood services, career and technical education, school food services, student assessments, and initiatives to improve literacy and work-based learning opportunities. The funding covers administrative costs, program expansions, and direct services to students from birth through high school, with some funds designated for federal program matching and others for new pilot projects.
This bill establishes a Choose Iowa school purchasing program that matches school district spending on local agricultural products with state funding, allowing schools to purchase meat, poultry, dairy, grains, eggs, honey, and produce from Iowa farms at a one-to-one reimbursement rate. It also creates a Choose Iowa food bank purchasing program that provides matching funds to Iowa food banks and emergency feeding organizations for similar local food purchases, with a cap of $50,000 per organization annually. The legislation authorizes the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to administer these programs, set membership criteria for participating farms and businesses, and use up to 5% of program funds for administrative costs. Additionally, the bill allocates $1.75 million annually to support renewable fuel infrastructure for retail motor fuel sites and $150,000 for program administration.
This bill increases the state appropriation for nonpublic school pupil transportation reimbursement by $186,883.55, raising the total limit to $9,183,974.55 for fiscal year 2025-2026. It directly affects nonpublic schools (like private or religious schools) that receive state funding for student transportation services. The key provision requires the Department of Education to use the additional funds to pay claims delayed due to administrative errors, while also mandating proration of all approved claims if total requests exceed the new appropriation limit. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.
This bill establishes a new system for tracking the effectiveness of Iowa's education programs. It requires schools and colleges to report detailed data on program costs, completion rates, graduate employment, and earnings to the Iowa Student Aid Commission. The commission will then compile and publish this "return on investment" data in a public format, helping students and families compare program outcomes. Additionally, the bill consolidates multiple education reports into an annual "Condition of Education Report" and modifies how workforce data is shared for program evaluation. These changes directly affect public colleges, secondary schools, and students seeking postsecondary education.
HF 2336 requires Iowa school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to comply with federal standards for student religious, political, and ideological expression. The bill mandates that schools annually distribute federal guidance on religious expression to all staff, offer related professional development, adopt model policies, and certify annual compliance. Schools that fail to follow these requirements face civil penalties of at least $5,000 per violation. This legislation directly affects all public K-12 schools in Iowa by establishing specific administrative duties to ensure student speech rights align with federal law.
This bill modifies Iowa's education laws to require all high school students (grades 9-12) to participate in at least one cocurricular or extracurricular activity as a condition for graduation. It defines "cocurricular" activities (like student government or theater) and "extracurricular" activities (like sports or band) in detail, mandating school districts to ensure students meet this requirement. The bill also updates physical education rules, adding self-defense content for grades 6+ and adjusting weekly activity time requirements, but the new graduation requirement is the primary policy change directly affecting students. School districts will fund this through existing state aid, per the bill's funding provisions.
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.
SF 2231 expands access to preschool and college programs in Iowa. It allows community-based childcare centers and preschool providers to participate in school district programs under specific agreements, ensuring eligible four-year-olds can access services regardless of their program type. The bill also creates pathways for high school students (grades 9-12) to enroll in nonsectarian college courses at community colleges for credit, requiring school districts to notify students and parents about these options. Additionally, it mandates that public school districts make textbooks available to accredited nonpublic school students upon request, using state funds if appropriated. These provisions directly affect preschool providers, public/private school districts, high school students, and nonpublic school students.
