Education 3/8
- indivisiblecria
- Mar 8
- 4 min read
Many of the bills detailed last week remain in the same status, so most will be reviews of the previous week. There are several bills, not technically considered to be education bills, but they are related to education. Again, the library bills are of great importance, it is just one more step taking away local control and subverting freedoms. I have also included a gun “safety” bill below. Finally, the chaplain bill is still lingering.
There are some very dangerous bills listed here, take action via email, phone call, letter to the editor; make sure our voices are heard.
Items Related to Education:
HF2622 (OPPOSE)
This bill covers restriction of minors accessing materials deemed not “age-appropriate” and transferring authority over public libraries from independent boards and committees to city councils.
The bill is eligible for consideration by the House.
Both bills would allow a person with a valid permit to carry to have a gun in their vehicle in the driveways and parking lots of school grounds.
SF2263 casts a wide net on the topic of guns in vehicles in public spaces that also overlaps with HF621 in the area of school grounds. If you are curious, here are links to the lobbyist declaration pages for SF2263 and HF621.
Any legislation that allows for guns on school grounds only puts students and staff at risk.
Click on the bills for more details.
SF2263 has passed the senate and has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee
HF621 Is eligible for debate in the House.
HF884 (OPPOSE)
This is the bill that allows public schools to employ chaplains to provide services to students, see previous descriptions.
This is eligible for debate in the Senate although there has been no action on this bill. (no update this week)
SF2231 (OPPOSE)
This bill removes religious limitations on public funding.
Read Senator Art Staed’s extended explanation and condemnation of this bill.
The bill has passed in the Senate and is currently in the House Education Committee.
Public Education Bills:
An Act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to the protected speech and expression rights of students enrolled in school districts, charter school, and innovation zone schools and the duties of the department of education, and providing civil penalties.
While this bill respects the right of free speech, including prayer and discussion of religious ideas, it seems to expand protections for proselytizing or trying to convert students who are considered a captive audience in schools.
HF2336 has passed in the House, while SF2300 is in the Senate and eligible for debate. Senate Education Committee.
HF2510 (OPPOSE)
This bill mandates specific curriculum requirements that public schools must include for social studies in grades one through twelve and educational programs of the regents universities. The legislature is overreaching by mandating specific curriculum requirements.
The bill was passed by the House and is in the Senate Education Committee
Higher Education:
SF2405 (OPPOSE)
(Formerly HF2116/SF2174)
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are already prohibited in public schools and state universities, but this bill goes even further. It allows anyone, regardless of “standing”, to go to court and force an action against a district only because that person doesn’t like something happening in a district. This could cause a useless but detrimental financial burden for districts.
Writer's Note: Apparently, the Federal Dept. of Education is no longer pursuing enforcement of DEI "Offenses." It would be worthwhile to remind our state legislators of that.
This is eligible for debate in the Senate.
HF2488 (OPPOSE)
(Formerly HSB537)
The bill prohibits a private college from having a diversity, equity, and inclusion office. The institution would not be eligible to receive funding from the Iowa Tuition Grant program if it is in violation.
The bill has passed the House and is now in the Senate Education Committee
(Formerly SF2063/HSB542)
An anti diversity, equity, and inclusion, and critical race theory prohibition. The board of regents is required to complete a review of all undergraduate course requirements and if related to the above, may eliminate those requirements.
Also, HF2487 authorizes the attorney general to conduct an investigation regarding a violation of current law prohibiting regents universities, community colleges, and state entities, which would include local governments, from engaging in certain practices regarding DEI.
These bills are eligible for debate in their respective chambers.
A bill that establishes required courses in American History and American Government for all undergraduate students. This bill continues to shift decisions on course requirements of higher education from the educational institutions to the state legislature. For more context, look for coverage on last year's HF401 "Core Curriculum Act'. Formerly (HSB543 /SF2033)
These bills are both eligible for consideration in their respective houses.
HF2539 (OPPOSE)
(Formerly HSB607)
A bill for an act repealing the board of regents' minority and women educators’ enhancement program.
The bill has passed in the House and is in the Senate Education Committee
HF2489 (OPPOSE)
(formerly HSB548)
The bill mandates that the three state universities sign the “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” created by the Trump Administration.
There are several highly concerning issues with this bill;
Requires standardized tests for admission,
Mandates "ideologically neutral" campuses while exclusively protecting conservative ideas, and
Allows “lawful force” as a means of maintaining order on campus.
The bill is in the House