HF 2078 creates an opportunity tax credit of $4,000 per eligible dependent for Iowa taxpayers whose children are not enrolled in public school or receiving an educational savings account (ESA) payment. It directly affects parents or guardians of dependents who meet specific criteria, such as having attended public school for at least one semester, being eligible for kindergarten, or previously receiving an ESA payment. The credit is refundable, can be claimed on tax returns or requested as an advance payment from a newly created state fund, and requires the Department of Revenue to verify enrollment status with the Department of Education. The bill applies retroactively to tax years beginning January 1, 2026, and mandates annual reports starting in 2028 detailing claims and potential fraud.
This bill allows public school district employees and elected officials to enroll in Iowa's state health insurance plan, matching the premium rates paid by state employees. School districts must apply for coverage and pay monthly premiums plus administrative fees, deposited into a dedicated trust fund for the program. Unpaid premiums incur interest, and the state may withhold district funding until payments are made. Annual reports on enrollment, costs, and program impact are required. The bill takes effect July 1, 2027.
Iowa's HSB 610 requires all public and accredited nonpublic high schools to include one semester of computer science as a graduation requirement for students graduating in the 2030-2031 school year and beyond. The bill mandates that computer science courses must cover fundamental concepts of evolving technologies and artificial intelligence - including how AI works, its societal impact, and ethical considerations - starting in the 2022-2023 school year for a half-unit requirement. The state must publish a list of approved computer science courses by June 2027 and create a plan to expand teacher capacity, especially for small schools (under 500 students in grades 9-12). This directly affects Iowa high school students, educators, and school districts implementing new graduation standards.
HF 2226 requires the University of Iowa's Bachelor of Science in Nursing program to accept at least 80% of students who graduated from Iowa high schools. It mandates admission priority for these Iowa high school graduates and requires applicants to state whether they graduated from an Iowa high school or plan to work in Iowa after graduation. The university must submit annual reports to Iowa lawmakers showing acceptance rates for Iowa applicants and brief reasons for denials (while keeping personal data confidential under federal privacy laws). This bill directly affects nursing program applicants and the University of Iowa's admissions process.
HF 2211 requires Iowa public school districts to allow students enrolled in nonpublic schools to join public school show choir or marching band if those activities are offered by the public school but not by the nonpublic school. This applies to students living within the public school district or in a neighboring district, based on agreements between school districts and nonpublic schools. Nonpublic school students participating under this bill must pay the same fee as public school students, with no higher fees allowed. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.
HF 2004 allows students enrolled in nonpublic schools to participate in public school extracurricular activities like sports, theater, show choir, and band under specific conditions. Nonpublic school students must live within the public school district or a contiguous district, and the activity cannot have been offered by their nonpublic school in the past two years or be covered by another existing agreement. Public school districts may charge nonpublic students the same fee as public students for participation, and these students must follow the public school's conduct rules. The bill ensures nonpublic students meet the same eligibility requirements as public school students for these activities.
HF 2002 requires Iowa's legislative council to hire an independent, nonpartisan reviewer (not affiliated with political parties or school districts) to conduct a comprehensive review of the state's K-12 public education system. The review must examine 30 years of trends, funding sources, school district structures, rural/urban challenges, and international education models, then propose actionable reforms for equitable funding, operational efficiency, and improved student outcomes. The reviewer must provide periodic updates and submit a final report with short- and long-term strategies, including costs and funding sources, to the legislature by January 1, 2027. This bill directly affects all Iowa public schools, teachers, and students by mandating a detailed, evidence-based analysis to inform future education policy decisions. The report will be presented to the legislature and discussed in public forums to gather feedback before implementation.
SF 2006 requires all physically able students in kindergarten through grade five at Iowa public and accredited nonpublic schools to engage in 30 minutes of daily physical activity, separate from physical education classes. The bill specifies that schools cannot prevent this activity unless a student is suspended, absent, poses a safety risk, or circumstances like severe weather or early dismissal occur. Current law allowed physical education to count toward the daily requirement, but this bill explicitly prohibits that. The measure directly affects K-5 students and school districts implementing daily activity plans.
This bill modifies Iowa's high school curriculum requirements by allowing technology, engineering, or manufacturing courses to count toward the half-unit computer science credit required for grades 9-12. It specifically permits schools to use dedicated coursework or combined courses (that also meet career-technical education standards) to fulfill this requirement. The change applies to all public school districts, charter schools, and accredited nonpublic schools in Iowa. The state board of education must create implementing rules, and the policy takes effect for the 2022 school year.
This bill requires all Iowa public and nonpublic high schools to include one semester of computer science and artificial intelligence (AI) education in their graduation requirements, beginning with the 2030-2031 graduating class. Starting in the 2023-2024 school year, schools must offer AI and computer science courses meeting state standards that cover AI concepts, ethics, societal impact, and foundational skills. The bill also mandates a statewide plan for teacher training by 2027, especially for smaller schools, and establishes online course options for districts. Additionally, it modifies science and math graduation units to allow limited AI instruction to count toward requirements.
