Education (Higher Education)

in committee · Iowa · House Jan 30, 2026

HF 2236: A bill for an act modifying provisions related to the Iowa tuition grants program and including effective date provisions.

HF 2236 modifies Iowa's tuition grants program to expand eligibility for students at accredited private colleges and universities. It revises definitions to include "accredited private institutions" in key sections, ensuring these schools qualify for state financial aid programs like the Iowa Tuition Grant and teacher shortage loan programs. The bill also requires institutions to post required textbook lists online 14 days before each term and creates a new teacher shortage forgivable loan program for students in designated teacher shortage areas. These changes directly affect students attending private colleges, public institutions, and community colleges participating in Iowa's state aid programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands tuition grant eligibility to private institutions and creates teacher shortage loan program, increasing educational funding access and support for educators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SF 2002: A bill for an act relating to tuition charged to resident undergraduate students enrolled at regents institutions.

This bill requires Iowa's public universities (regents institutions) to freeze tuition for in-state undergraduate students after their first year of enrollment, starting with students beginning in 2027 or later. It applies only to the first three consecutive academic years following a student's initial enrollment, including students with transfer credits who can complete degrees faster. The freeze does not apply to any years beyond those three, and it specifically covers tuition charged in the student's initial year of enrollment. This policy directly affects Iowa resident undergraduate students at public universities, aiming to stabilize costs during their early academic years.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationFreezes tuition for in-state undergrads at regents institutions, reducing costs and improving access to higher education for students.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 13, 2026

SF 2008: A bill for an act establishing requirements related to nonpublic schools that receive tuition payments from parents or guardians whose students are participating in the education savings account program.

SF 2008 requires nonpublic schools receiving tuition payments through Iowa's education savings account program to meet specific accountability standards. The bill mandates that these schools must follow the same accountability, data reporting, and auditing rules as public school districts. This applies to all nonpublic schools that accept payments from parents using savings account funds for tuition. The law directly affects participating nonpublic schools by requiring compliance with these district-level requirements to continue receiving program payments. It modifies the definition of "qualified educational expenses" to include these new conditions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires nonpublic schools using public education savings funds to follow public school accountability, data reporting, and auditing rules, strengthening oversight of publicly funded education programs.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education School Choice

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 16, 2026

HSB 572: A bill for an act relating to career education, including by modifying provisions related to career academies, the collective statewide articulation agreement between community colleges and the state board of regents, the district-to-community college sharing or concurrent enrollment program, and individual career and academic plans.

This bill modifies Iowa's career education system to better align high school programs with workforce needs. It requires community colleges to identify regional high-demand jobs and updates career academy rules to ensure they include at least two years of secondary education with community college articulation. The bill also strengthens credit transfer agreements between community colleges and four-year institutions, ensuring career and technical education credits transfer smoothly, and expands funding for high school students taking college-level courses through concurrent enrollment programs. These changes directly affect high school students, community colleges, and school districts by improving pathways to in-demand careers and college credit.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationModifies career academies, strengthens credit transfers, aligns high school programs with workforce needs, and expands career education pathways per bill summary.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Higher Education K-12 Education

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 28, 2026

HF 2186: A bill for an act modifying provisions related to application periods for the education savings account program.

HF 2186 modifies Iowa's education savings account program by creating a new application window for semester-based funding. Parents or guardians of students attending nonpublic schools can now apply for payments between December 1-20 (instead of the existing January 1-June 30 window for full school years). If applications are submitted in this new semester window, payments are reduced to 50% of the standard amount. The bill also requires the state to pay nonpublic schools directly within 30 days when tuition is covered by these accounts. This affects families using the program for nonpublic school expenses like tuition and educational materials.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates new semester application window for education savings accounts, expanding access to nonpublic school funding despite reduced payments for this window.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education School Choice

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 16, 2026

HSB 609: A bill for an act modifying the duties of the workforce development board, state board of education, and department of education related to cyber and artificial intelligence.

HB 609 requires Iowa's workforce development board to create a statewide initiative addressing cyber and AI workforce needs, including developing K-12 curriculum standards for AI/cyber literacy, fostering university-industry partnerships for internships and degree programs, and establishing grant programs for training (subject to funding). It mandates the state board of education to set statewide AI/cyber literacy standards for all students from kindergarten through higher education, prioritize federal funding to bridge K-12 and college pathways, and create a voluntary school certification program based on self-attestation and limited department review. The department of education must also develop a community awareness program featuring a digital resource hub for at-risk groups and targeted educational content for demographics like seniors and law enforcement. These provisions apply directly to public schools, colleges, private industry partners, and community education efforts across Iowa.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates statewide AI/cyber literacy curriculum standards for K-12 students, directly advancing educational curriculum development per bill summary.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates AI/cyber literacy standards, workforce training grants, and K-12 curriculum development for technology education, directly advancing tech workforce capacity and digital skills.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Higher Education K-12 Education Artificial Intelligence

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introduced · Iowa · House Jan 30, 2026

HF 2241: A bill for an act providing for partial liability of regents institutions for defaulted educational loans.

HF 2241 (Iowa) requires public universities governed by the state board of regents to cover 10% of the amount owed when a student defaults on an educational loan used for tuition during their enrollment. This applies specifically to loans taken out on or after July 1, 2026, and directly affects borrowers who default on these student loans. The bill establishes that the institution’s 10% liability offsets the borrower’s debt under the same terms, unless the institution negotiates different terms. It does not change the borrower’s primary responsibility for the remaining 90% of the debt.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill reduces borrower debt by 10% for defaulted student loans used for tuition, providing financial relief to students and supporting educational access in higher education.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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signed · Iowa · Senate Apr 9, 2026

SF 2137: A bill for an act relating to the definition of qualified education expenses.

This bill amends Iowa's definition of "qualified education expenses" for state tax-advantaged savings plans. It aligns Iowa's definition with specific federal Internal Revenue Code sections (529(e)(3) and 529(c)(7)), expanding covered expenses to include elementary/secondary school tuition, registered apprenticeship program costs, and principal/interest payments on qualified education loans for beneficiaries or their siblings. The change directly affects Iowa residents using the state's educational savings plan trust (Code chapter 12D) by clarifying which education costs qualify for tax benefits. The bill removes an outdated reference to a specific federal amendment while updating the definition to match current federal guidelines.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands tax-advantaged education expenses, providing tax relief via broader eligibility for savings plans under state tax code.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands qualified education expenses to include K-12 tuition, apprenticeships, and loan payments, enhancing access to tax-advantaged savings for education costs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education

introduced · Iowa · Legislature

5555XD: Deposit of Public Funds, Requirements (5555XD) - Treasurer of State

This bill amends Iowa's definition of "qualified education expenses" for state educational savings plans. It aligns the definition with specific sections of the federal Internal Revenue Code, explicitly including elementary and secondary school tuition, apprenticeship program costs (registered with the U.S. Labor Department), and qualified education loan payments. The change directly affects Iowa residents using the state's educational savings plans (like 529 plans) by expanding eligible expenses to cover more education-related costs under federal tax rules. The bill removes an outdated reference to a specific IRS amendment while ensuring state plan rules match current federal definitions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands tax-advantaged education expenses under state savings plans, aligning with federal tax code to provide broader tax relief for education costs.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands eligible expenses for state education savings plans to include K-12 tuition and apprenticeship costs, directly enhancing educational access and affordability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 11, 2026

SSB 3006: A bill for an act providing for career development information for students newly enrolling in institutions of higher education and including applicability provisions.

SSB 3006 requires Iowa colleges and universities to schedule a career development meeting for all newly enrolled undergraduate students during their first semester or orientation. During this meeting, students must review their work history, interests, and potential career paths tied to their major or interests, while also receiving information on internships, jobs, and resume resources. Institutions must also provide written materials detailing local job availability, pay ranges, high-demand occupations, and high-paying careers in Iowa that don’t require a bachelor’s degree. The law applies to first-time students enrolling on or after July 1, 2026, and covers both state-regulated institutions and private schools serving students with Iowa tuition grants.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates career development meetings for new students, linking education to workforce opportunities and enhancing student support services in higher education.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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