HF 417 increases Iowa's tuition and textbook tax credit for eligible families from 25% to 50% of the first $2,000 spent annually per dependent on private or accredited public school tuition and textbooks (K-12). It directly affects Iowa taxpayers with children attending qualifying non-profit, accredited schools that comply with civil rights laws. The bill applies retroactively to tax years beginning January 1, 2025, meaning families can claim the higher credit for 2025 taxes immediately. The credit remains subject to existing eligibility rules, including school accreditation and non-profit status requirements.
This bill modifies Iowa's education laws to update requirements for private instruction, world language teaching, dual enrollment access, and tax credits. It requires parents of privately instructed students to submit detailed course outlines and health documentation, while ensuring diplomas from private programs are treated equally to public school diplomas. The bill prohibits altering grammatical gender in world language instruction (e.g., Spanish, French) when teaching languages that use gendered grammar. It also clarifies dual enrollment access for privately instructed students to participate in public school academic and extracurricular activities. The tuition tax credit section is amended to adjust the credit amount for dependent students in kindergarten through grade 12.
HF 150 prohibits Iowa public school districts from using standards-based grading for students in grades six through twelve. The bill defines standards-based grading as a method that evaluates students on mastery of specific, smaller learning objectives within subjects, rather than traditional letter grades or points. If passed, school districts would be required to switch to alternative grading systems for middle and high school students. The bill is currently under review by the education subcommittee after being introduced in January 2025.
This bill prohibits Iowa's public universities (regents institutions) from requiring students to take courses or faculty to incorporate specific diversity, equity, inclusion, and critical race theory topics as part of degree requirements. It bans mandates for courses covering topics like systemic racism, implicit bias, or race-based equity, and prevents faculty from being pressured to include such content in teaching as a condition for promotion or pay. The law allows exemptions only for programs explicitly focused on racial, ethnic, or gender studies, but students cannot be forced to take these courses to meet general degree requirements. The policy takes effect for academic years beginning July 1, 2026.
This bill establishes standardized general education requirements for undergraduate students at Iowa's regents institutions (public universities). It mandates specific course requirements: 6 credit hours each in English composition, world language, math/stats, natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities, plus 3 credit hours each in western heritage (e.g., Western civilization) and American heritage (e.g., American history), totaling a maximum of 40 semester hours. The bill also prohibits courses teaching identity politics or theories that systemic racism, sexism, or oppression are inherent in U.S. or Iowa institutions, while preserving academic freedom for instructors. It applies to students enrolling at these institutions starting in academic years beginning July 1, 2027.
This bill establishes a School of Intellectual Freedom as an independent academic unit within the University of Iowa's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. It requires the school to teach courses on the historical foundations of the American constitutional order, free speech, civil discourse, and responsible leadership, directly affecting university students, faculty, and programming. The bill mandates that all funding (including private donations) be used solely for the school's direct operations, not university-wide costs, and requires the school to develop bylaws emphasizing intellectual diversity and open inquiry. The school will operate under a dean appointed by a board-selected academic council, with annual reports to state officials.
HF 422 establishes quality standards for Iowa's statewide voluntary preschool program (SVPP), directly affecting school districts, early childhood providers, and families with preschool-aged children. The bill requires programs to meet specific standards including teacher-child ratios, student learning goals, parent involvement, and collaboration with families and community partners like Head Start and childcare centers. It mandates 5-year program renewals and clarifies that state preschool funding can cover staff training, materials, and transportation but cannot be used for facility construction. The bill also requires programs to demonstrate ongoing community partnerships and integrates children from other preschool programs with parental consent.
This bill requires Iowa's legislature to set two specific budget growth percentages during the first regular session of each general assembly: the "state percent of growth" (a statewide funding rate) and the "categorical state percent of growth" (a rate for specific education programs like teacher supplements and transportation aid). For the 2022-2024 budget years, it fixes these rates at 2.5% or 3% as specified, and mandates that future rates be set within 30 days after the governor submits the budget. After initial setting, the legislature may only increase - never decrease - these percentages for the second budget year covered. The bill directly affects state budget planning for education funding and requires these rates to be established for two consecutive budget years.
HF 447 allows Iowa school districts to use funds from their district management levy to cover school safety and security costs. Specifically, it permits using these funds for installing and operating safety infrastructure (like weapons detection and door monitoring systems) and for hiring security personnel. This change applies to school budget years starting July 1, 2025, and modifies existing law to expand the allowable uses of these levy revenues. The bill directly affects school districts seeking to fund safety measures through their existing local levy system.
HF 262 creates a budget adjustment for Iowa school districts that face higher actual costs than their current teacher salary funding covers. Specifically, districts would receive state funds if their costs (including retirement contributions and taxes) exceed existing teacher salary supplements for roles like classroom teachers, counselors, nurses, and teacher leadership positions. Districts must formally request this adjustment annually and spend the funds solely on teacher salaries within the same year. The bill aims to help districts comply with minimum salary requirements without creating budget shortfalls.
