Education

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SF 2063: A bill for an act prohibiting courses and content relating to diversity, equity, inclusion, and critical race theory in general education requirements and core curricula at regents institutions.

SF 2063, titled the "Stop Woke Act," prohibits Iowa regents institutions from including courses or course requirements containing specific diversity, equity, inclusion, and critical race theory-related content in undergraduate general education or core curricula. The bill defines prohibited content as material discussing systemic racism, race-based privilege, or concepts like "critical race theory" or "systemic bias" in contemporary society. It requires the state board of regents to establish policies by December 31, 2026, and review all general education requirements to remove affected courses by the same deadline. The law specifically targets required courses in core curricula, not all courses or extracurricular programs.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill explicitly prohibits DEI/CRT content in curricula, restricting educational content per bill's definition of prohibited material.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 6, 2026

HSB 636: A bill for an act prohibiting school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools from entering into certain specified contracts with public libraries and hosting mobile libraries.

This bill prohibits Iowa school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools from entering agreements that would allow students to use their school-issued ID cards to access public library resources (like books or digital materials). It also bans these schools from permitting mobile libraries - vehicles owned/operated by public libraries that transport books - to access school property for events where students check out books. The law defines "public library" as city-ordained or chapter 336 library districts and "mobile library" as a vehicle used for transporting educational materials. These provisions apply directly to all covered schools and public libraries in Iowa.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationProhibits school districts from allowing student ID access to public libraries and banning mobile library visits, restricting student access to educational resources.95% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill restricts school-issued ID access to library digital resources, limiting student access to online materials and digital services provided by public libraries.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Libraries

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 28, 2026

SF 2066: A bill for an act relating to human growth and development course enrollment at school districts and to pupil attendance at educational conferences or seminars in which human growth and development information is provided.

SF 2066 requires Iowa school districts to obtain written parental consent before enrolling students in human growth and development courses or arranging attendance at related educational conferences or seminars. It mandates that school boards annually provide parents with specific information about such courses and conferences, including how to request their child's exemption. The bill prohibits school districts from requiring student participation without this written consent, which must be submitted to the principal. This policy directly affects parents/guardians, school districts, and students in Iowa public schools, with implementation funded through existing state school foundation aid.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRequires parental consent for human growth courses, restricting student access to curriculum without consent; aligns with 'restricts curriculum' opposition indicator.92% confidence

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 16, 2026

SF 2119: A bill for an act relating to obscenity exemptions for public libraries and educational institutions.

SF 2119 repeals Iowa Code section 728.7, which currently protects public libraries and schools from obscenity charges when providing age-appropriate educational materials. The bill removes a legal exemption that previously stated obscenity laws (Chapter 728) do not prohibit the use of such materials in accredited schools, public libraries, or educational programs with minors. This change would mean libraries and schools could face obscenity prosecutions for materials previously shielded under this exemption. The bill directly affects public libraries, schools, and educational programs that distribute materials to minors. (Note: The bill is procedural in nature but changes substantive law, requiring a 3-5 sentence summary.)

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRemoves legal exemption protecting schools/libraries from obscenity prosecutions for educational materials, restricting content access and academic freedom.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Libraries

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 16, 2026

HSB 542: A bill for an act prohibiting courses and content relating to diversity, equity, inclusion, and critical race theory in general education requirements and core curricula at regents institutions.

This bill prohibits Iowa's public universities (regents institutions) from requiring courses containing content related to diversity, equity, inclusion, or critical race theory in general education programs. It specifically bans material promoting ideas like systemic racism, race-based privilege, or differential treatment based on race, and lists topics such as "systemic racism," "implicit bias," or "intersectionality" as prohibited. The state board of regents must establish this policy and review all general education curricula by December 2026, removing any required courses that include prohibited content. The law directly affects undergraduate students and faculty at Iowa's public universities by restricting mandatory course content in foundational education requirements.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationProhibits DEI/critical race theory content in university curricula, restricting academic freedom and curriculum requirements in education.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Higher Education

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 26, 2026

HF 2156: A bill for an act relating to the eligibility of certain individuals employed by educational institutions for unemployment insurance benefits between two successive academic years or terms.

HF 2156 modifies Iowa's unemployment insurance rules for educational staff employed between academic terms. It removes the current provision that allowed workers to receive retroactive benefits if they had "reasonable assurance" of returning to the same role but were not rehired. Under this bill, individuals performing services for an educational institution before a vacation or holiday break are ineligible for unemployment benefits during that break, even if they had assurance of continued work afterward. This change directly affects non-instructional, non-research, and non-principal administrative staff at schools who might otherwise qualify for benefits during academic transitions. The bill does not create new funding requirements, as school districts will cover costs using existing state foundation aid.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRemoves unemployment benefits eligibility for educational staff between academic terms, reducing support for educators and limiting access to safety net during breaks.85% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentRemoves retroactive unemployment benefits for educators between academic terms, restricting access to worker benefits under unemployment compensation rules.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 4, 2026

HF 2171: A bill for an act striking elementary and secondary student immunization requirements.

This bill removes Iowa's requirement for students to provide proof of specific vaccinations to enroll in public or private elementary and secondary schools. It eliminates mandates for immunizations against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, measles, rubella, and chickenpox, as well as hepatitis B for children born after 1994 and meningococcal disease for grades 7 and 12. The bill also strikes related provisions requiring schools to provide exemption information and parents to submit immunization records when placing children in private instruction. These changes apply directly to students, parents, and schools across Iowa.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRemoves mandatory immunization requirements for school enrollment, directly weakening a core educational policy requirement for K-12 schools.95% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill removes mandatory school immunizations, weakening public health programs that protect community immunity and prevent disease outbreaks.95% confidence

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 16, 2026

HSB 607: A bill for an act repealing the board of regents’ minority and women educators enhancement program.

This bill repeals Iowa's Board of Regents minority and women educators enhancement program (sections 262.81-82 of the Code). The program required regents institutions to recruit minority educators for faculty roles and create opportunities for women educators, while also developing tenure/promotion policies that address caregivers' needs. By repealing these sections, the bill removes these specific requirements from state law. The change directly affects regents institutions' hiring and faculty development practices related to these programs.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRepeals program requiring minority/women educator recruitment and caregiver tenure policies, removing supportive mandates for diversity and inclusion in faculty hiring.95% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentRepeals program requiring minority/women educator recruitment and caregiver tenure policies, removing mandated protections for these groups in employment.95% confidence

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 21, 2026

SF 2003: A bill for an act prohibiting school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools from providing any program, curriculum, test, survey, questionnaire, promotion, or instruction relating to gender theory or sexual orientation instruction in grades seven through twelve.

SF 2003 prohibits Iowa public school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools from offering any program, curriculum, test, survey, questionnaire, promotion, or instruction related to gender theory or sexual orientation to students in grades seven through twelve. The bill amends existing education laws to extend a current prohibition (previously limited to grades K-6) to cover all middle and high school students. Key mechanisms require schools to comply with this restriction when developing or implementing human growth and development instruction, including health education standards. The policy change directly affects school curricula and instructional materials in the specified grades.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationProhibits gender theory/sexual orientation instruction in grades 7-12, restricting curriculum content in schools per bill's explicit language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 10, 2026

HSB 535: A bill for an act prohibiting land acknowledgments by regents institutions.

This bill requires Iowa's state board of regents to direct all public universities and colleges under its control to adopt policies banning official land acknowledgments by the institutions or their departments. It directly affects regents institutions (like public universities) by prohibiting their use of land acknowledgments in official communications or actions. The bill explicitly exempts classroom discussions, academic research, and personal statements made by individuals not speaking on behalf of the institution. It does not restrict land acknowledgments in teaching or research settings, only in official institutional capacity.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationProhibits land acknowledgments in official institutional communications, restricting higher education curriculum practices and academic expression per bill language.95% confidence

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