Education (Higher Education)

died · Iowa · Senate Mar 4, 2026

SF 2391: A bill for an act relating to education programs and systems, including career and technical education expenditures and definitions, statewide lower division general education framework and common course numbering systems, and the implementation of a statewide corequisite model in Iowa community colleges.

SF 2391 establishes new requirements for Iowa's career and technical education (CTE) programs and community college coursework. It mandates high schools to offer computer science aligned with state standards starting in 2023, requires students to complete sequential CTE coursework across four of six defined career areas (like health sciences or business), and defines "high-demand," "high-skill," and "high-wage" occupations to guide program development. For community colleges, the bill requires implementing a statewide common course numbering system by 2027 to improve transferability and replacing traditional remedial math/English courses with corequisite models by 2028-2029. These changes directly affect Iowa K-12 students, educators, school districts, and community colleges through updated curriculum standards and institutional practices.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates computer science courses, requires sequential CTE coursework, and defines high-demand occupations to strengthen educational programs and career pathways.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Curriculum Higher Education

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 24, 2026

HSB 677: A bill for an act requiring the board of educational examiners to establish additional endorsements for instruction related to fine arts, mathematics, science, and agriculture.

This bill requires Iowa's Board of Educational Examiners to create new teaching endorsements for high-need subjects: fine arts, mathematics, science, and agriculture. It mandates that applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college to receive these endorsements. The new endorsements and requirements will expire on July 1, 2030, after which they will no longer apply. The bill directly affects educators seeking specialized teaching credentials in these subject areas.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates new teaching endorsements for high-need education subjects (arts, math, science, agriculture) with bachelor's degree requirement, strengthening educator qualifications in critical areas.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 30, 2026

HSB 544: A bill for an act creating an endowment tax on the endowment value of certain Iowa colleges and universities, limited charges relating to certain endowment funds, making appropriations to workforce grant and incentive programs, and making appropriations to supplement tuition grants for high-wage and high-demand jobs.

This bill imposes a 15% annual tax on the endowment value exceeding $250 million for Iowa public universities (governed by the state board of regents) and accredited private colleges. The tax revenue from public institutions funds Iowa’s workforce grant incentive program, while private colleges’ tax revenue supports a new "high-wage and high-demand jobs" account within the tuition grants fund. This account supplements tuition grants for students enrolled in private colleges studying in fields identified as high-wage and high-demand by the workforce development board. The bill also limits management fees on endowments to 1% of endowment value annually.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes 15% tax on large college endowments to fund workforce grants and tuition supplements, directly allocating tax revenue to public programs.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates endowment tax revenue to supplement tuition grants for students in high-wage/high-demand fields, directly funding educational access and affordability.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds workforce grant programs and high-wage job training, directly supporting employment opportunities and workforce development in high-demand fields per bill's tax revenue allocation.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Higher Education Workforce Development

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 9, 2026

SF 2060: A bill for an act relating to eligibility standards for certain education programs and tax provisions based on religious or sectarian use or purpose, and including retroactive applicability provisions.

This bill modifies Iowa's education and tax laws to ensure public funding for educational programs excludes religious instruction. It defines "property" to exclude facilities used for sectarian teaching, worship, or religious training, and requires courses for high school students taking college credit to be nonsectarian. School districts must verify comparable nonreligious courses aren't available before allowing students to enroll in eligible college courses at community colleges. Textbook funding for nonpublic schools must be for nonreligious materials, and districts must annually approve courses for academic rigor. The bill affects public school districts, community colleges, and accredited nonpublic schools in Iowa.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill restricts public funding for religious instruction by modifying tax laws, excluding sectarian facilities and requiring nonsectarian courses. This defunds religious use of public funds, directly limiting government spending per tax provisions.90% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts public funding for religious instruction in education programs, excluding sectarian use from tax provisions and requiring nonsectarian courses.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Higher Education K-12 Education

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 9, 2026

SF 2033: A bill for an act relating to general education requirements, core curricula, other functions of regents institutions, and including applicability provisions.

SF 2033, the "Increasing Civic Proficiency in Higher Education Act," requires Iowa's regents universities (University of Iowa, Iowa State, and UNI) to mandate that all undergraduate students complete introductory survey courses in American history and American government. Each course must be worth at least three semester credits and fulfill social sciences or humanities requirements, while avoiding exclusive focus on specific subgroups. The requirement applies to students beginning enrollment in academic years starting July 1, 2028, and institutions must grant credit for equivalent prior coursework. Excluded are students in designated three-year degree programs, and the bill also directs university centers to designate qualifying courses and submit annual reports.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates civic education courses at Iowa regents universities, enhancing curriculum requirements to increase civic proficiency per bill title and summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 16, 2026

HSB 548: A bill for an act directing regents institutions to sign the federal Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education and including effective date provisions.

This bill directs Iowa's three regents universities - University of Iowa, Iowa State University, and University of Northern Iowa - to sign the federal Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education by December 31, 2026. The institutions and their board of regents must take all necessary steps to complete this signature by the deadline. The bill takes immediate effect upon enactment and does not alter the terms of the federal compact itself.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates regents universities to sign federal Compact for Academic Excellence, aligning with higher education quality goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 16, 2026

HSB 537: A bill for an act prohibiting private institutions of higher education that participate in the Iowa tuition grant program from establishing diversity, equity, and inclusion offices.

This bill prohibits private colleges and universities in Iowa that participate in the state's tuition grant program from establishing or maintaining diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices. It defines a DEI office as any unit creating or promoting policies related to race, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation, but excludes legal compliance offices, academic departments, student recruitment, and student organizations. Institutions failing to comply risk losing eligibility for the tuition grant program starting the next academic year, with a 30-day window to correct violations or provide documentation. The law explicitly allows DEI-related activities that align with federal or state law, accreditation standards, or academic instruction.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationProhibits DEI offices in participating colleges, restricting diversity initiatives in higher education policy per bill's explicit language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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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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passed · Iowa · House Mar 18, 2026

HF 2250: A bill for an act authorizing resident students who are admitted to and in attendance in a comprehensive transition and postsecondary program to participate in the Iowa tuition grants program.

HF 2250 would allow Iowa residents with intellectual disabilities enrolled in approved comprehensive transition and postsecondary programs to receive state tuition grants. These programs, designed to prepare students for employment through academic and life skills training, must be approved by the U.S. Department of Education and offered by accredited private institutions, community colleges, or state universities. Eligible students could receive grants covering up to two semesters of tuition and fees per year for a maximum of eight semesters total. Payments would be made at the start of each semester by the educational institution, with refunds required if a student withdraws after receiving funds.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands higher education access for students with intellectual disabilities via state tuition grants, directly funding program participation in approved postsecondary programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 23, 2026

SF 2095: A bill for an act relating to vaccination exemptions for certain students in clinical rotations and the qualification of postsecondary schools as eligible institutions for Iowa tuition grants.

SF 2095 requires Iowa postsecondary schools offering health-related degree programs (like nursing or medicine) to find clinical rotation placements where students can be exempt from vaccination rules during their training, upon student request. This applies specifically to students completing supervised health care training for academic credit. Schools failing to provide such exemptions lose eligibility to receive Iowa tuition grants for their students. The bill amends existing law to link school compliance with vaccination exemption placement to tuition grant eligibility.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill links Iowa tuition grants to schools accommodating vaccination exemptions for health students, enabling clinical training access and program continuity without restricting educational pathways.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill enables clinical training for healthcare students by requiring vaccination exemptions, supporting healthcare workforce development and educational access in health programs.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Public Health

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