Feb 20, 2026
This Week at the Statehouse - Week 6
The funnel has come and gone and left with it a list of bills that survived and those that did not.
As a recap, the funnel is the process by which the legislature narrows down the scope of legislation under consideration for the session. Bills introduced in the House need to be reported out of House committees and bills introduced in the Senate need to be reported out of Senate committees. If they don't meet that requirement, that specific bill is "dead" for the remainder of session.
Funnel week was a continuation of the busyness that was present last week, as agendas in committees were large to accommodate the priorities of legislators and meetings ran long into the evenings. Specific to higher education issues, here's a list of some bills that had committee action this week:
- SF 2143 – Presidential Selection – the bill was amended in committee to match what was passed in HF 2245 in the House
- SSB 3163 – Common course numbering between institutions of higher education for transfer of credits for students
- SSB 3164 / HSB 725 – Education data sharing between institutions and return on investment reports
- SF 2174 – Training on prohibited DEI concepts
- SF 2263 – Gun allowances in vehicles on certain property
- SSB 3180 – Regents’ innovation fund investments
The next three weeks both the House and Senate will be busy with floor debate to send bills to the other chamber for further consideration. March 20th is the "second funnel," the next deadline that bills have to meet to stay eligible. Each chamber has to pass the other chamber's bills through their committee. The large number of bills that passed committees to make the first funnel gets significantly smaller after the second funnel, meaning that even though it passed committee, the future of a majority of bills is always in doubt moving forward.
Next week UNI will be represented before the House in two separate committees:
- Business and Community Services (BCS) will present before the House Economic Development Appropriations Budget Subcommittee to discuss their programming
- President Nook will join the presidents from Iowa and Iowa State before the House Education Appropriations Budget Subcommittee to talk about UNI and our funding requests for this legislative session
Each week the spreadsheet below will be updated to show the latest action on the many bills that the Board of Regents staff is tracking throughout this session. Some of the below bills do not apply specifically to UNI, but we closely monitoring legislation all session that may affect our students, faculty, and campuses at all three institutions. We have been collaborating with lawmakers to ensure UNI’s voice is heard and will continue to advocate for initiatives that support our mission.
Bills that survived the First Funnel:
| Bill Number | Bill Title | Notes | Latest Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| HF 175 | A bill for an act relating to in-state residency for purposes of undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees at regents institutions and community colleges for certain military personnel and family members | PASSED committee 2/17 | |
| HF 703 | An Act concerning information regarding certain state and federal student loan programs | PASSED committee 1/29 | |
| HF 2066 | An Act relating to the terms of service of certain statewide boards | PASSED committee 2/4 | |
| HF 2189 (previously HSB 567) | An Act relating to public improvement contracts, including notice requirements | PASSED committee 1/26 | |
| HF 2226 (previously HSB 530) | An Act relating to the bachelor of science in nursing program at the university of Iowa, including priority for admission | PASSED committee 1/28 | |
| HF 2230 (previously HSB 555) | An Act relating to teacher education and licensing, including by modifying provisions related to practitioner preparation programs and licenses issued by the board of educational examiners | PASSED committee 1/28 | |
| HF 2241 (previously HSB 540) | An Act providing for partial liability of regents institutions for defaulted educational loans | Amended in committee | PASSED committee 1/28 |
| HF 2242 (previously HSB 531) | An Act prohibiting an increase in the amount of tuition and mandatory fees charged to resident undergraduate students at regents institutions for a period of time | PASSED committee 1/28 | |
| HF 2243 (previously HSB 541) | An Act requiring the state board of regents to submit a report to the general assembly and the governor related to establishing a performance-based funding model for the institutions of higher education governed by the state board of regents | PASSED committee 1/28 | |
| HF 2245 (previously HSB 538) | An Act relating to selection committees for presidents of regents institutions | Amended in committee | PASSED committee 1/28 |
| HF 2250 (previously HF 2012) | 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 | PASSED committee 1/28 | |
| HF 2294 (previously HSB 580) | An Act relating to the filing of complaints with the Iowa public information board | PASSED committee 2/3 | |
| HF 2304 (previously HSB 642) | An Act relating to indirect costs charged to state-funded grants, and including applicability provisions | PASSED committee 2/4 | |
| HF 2330 (previously HSB 582) | A bill for an act relating to public records requests. | PASSED committee 2/4 | |
| HF 2339 (previously HSB 547) | An Act regarding student admission factors to regents universities | PASSED committee 2/4 | |
| HF 2361 (previously HSB 543) | An Act relating to general education requirements, core curricula, other functions of regents institutions, and including applicability provisions | Amended in committee | PASSED committee 2/4 |
| HF 2362 (previously HSB 549) | An Act relating to tuition charged to resident undergraduate students enrolled at regents institutions | Amended in committee | PASSED committee 2/4 |
| HF 2415 (previously HF 606) | A bill for an act relating to certain health insurance policies, contracts, and plans and a special enrollment period for pregnant women. | PASSED committee 2/10 | |
| HF 2487 (previously HSB 542) | 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 | Amended in committee | PASSED committee 2/11 |
| HF 2489 (previously HSB 548) | An Act directing regents institutions to sign the federal Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education | PASSED committee 2/11 | |
| HF 2490 (previously HSB 578) | An Act relating to public notice requirements for meetings of a governmental body | PASSED committee 2/11 | |
| HF 2491 (previously HF 2132) | A bill for an act providing for a waiver of tuition and mandatory fees at regents institutions for certain veterans with service-connected disabilities. | PASSED committee 2/11 | |
| HF 2500 (previously HSB 583) | An Act relating to contracts entered into by state agencies and including applicability provisions | PASSED committee 2/11 | |
| HF 2502 (previously SB 579) | An Act relating to paid parental leave for state employees | PASSED committee 2/11 | |
| HF 2510 (previously HSB 714) | A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to the social studies instruction provided to students enrolled in grades one through twelve and the educational programs provided by the institutions of higher education under the control of the state board of regents, and requiring education related to the holocaust for students and teachers in school districts. | PASSED committee 2/11 | |
| HF 2513 (previously HSB 536) | A bill for an act prohibiting regents institutions from entering into employment contracts with citizens of federally designated foreign adversaries holding certain visas. | Amended in committee | PASSED committee 2/11 |
| HF 2517 (previously HSB 634) | A bill for an act relating to the display of flags at half-staff on public buildings. | PASSED committee 2/10 | |
| HF 2528 (previously HSB 609) | An Act modifying the duties of the workforce development board, state board of education, and department of education related to cyber and artificial intelligence | PASSED committee 2/11 | |
| HF 2539 (previously HSB 607) | A bill for an act repealing certain programs and other matters relating to higher education. | PASSED committee 2/11 | |
| HF 2540 (previously HSB 610) | An Act relating to computer science education, including high school curricula and graduation requirements, practitioner preparation programs, and college admissions, and including applicability provisions | Amended in committee | PASSED committee 2/11 |
| HF 2544 (previously HSB 646) | An Act requiring annual reports on antisemitism in community colleges, regents institutions, and public school districts | Amended in committee | PASSED committee 2/11 |
| HF 2547 (previously HSB 572) | 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 | Amended in committee | PASSED committee 2/11 |
| HF 2587 (previously HF 2194) | A bill for an act relating to the membership of the Iowa law enforcement academy council. | PASSED committee 2/17 | |
| HF 2608 (previously HSB 663) | An Act relating to qualifications for certain rights and privileges prescribed by the state, including state employment, professional licensure, voter registration, and bail. | PASSED committee 2/17 | |
| HF 2610 (previously HSB 675) | 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. | PASSED committee 2/16 | |
| HF 2637 (previously HSB 652) | An Act relating to the confidentiality of peer support communications for public safety officers. | PASSED committee 2/17 | |
| HF 2638 (previously HF 2388) | A bill for an act relating to public records, including employment separation information for certain government employees, contractors, or appointees. | PASSED committee 2/19 | |
| HSB 725 | A bill for an act relating to education reporting, including the sharing of unit-level wage data for secondary and postsecondary program evaluation, the establishment of the condition of education report, consolidating certain required reports, modifying responsibilities for the future ready Iowa last-dollar scholarship report, modifying Iowa workforce development data-sharing provisions, and creating a return on investment reporting system to be overseen by the Iowa student aid commission. | Will be renumbered to a HF | PASSED committee 2/18 |
| SF 487 | An Act relating to employer recordkeeping and auditing requirements for purposes of unemployment insurance and including applicability provisions. | PASSED committee 2/3 | |
| SF 2039 | An Act providing for intervention by members of the general assembly in proceedings for judicial review of agency action under the Iowa administrative procedure Act | PASSED committee 1/27 | |
| SF 2199 (previously SSB 3013) | An Act relating to the ownership of artificial intelligence output and trained artificial intelligence | PASSED committee 2/4 | |
| SF 2206 (previously SSB 3030) | An Act relating to contracts entered into by state agencies and including applicability provisions | PASSED committee 2/4 | |
| SF 2207 (previously SF 2037) | An Act relating to the submission of proposed legislation by state departments and agencies | PASSSED committee 2/4 | |
| SF 2222 (previously SSB 3048) | An Act relating to teacher education and licensing, including by modifying provisions related to practitioner preparation programs and licenses issued by the board of educational examiners | PASSED committee 2/4 | |
| SF 2223 (previously SSB 3049) | 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 | PASSED committee 2/4 | |
| SF 2227 (previously SF 2002) | An Act relating to tuition charged to resident undergraduate students enrolled at regents institutions | PASSED committee 2/4 | |
| SF 2232 (previously SF 2033) | An Act relating to general education requirements, core curricula, other functions of regents institutions | PASSED committee 2/4 | |
| SF 2263 | A bill for an act relating to the carrying, transportation, and possession of weapons. | Will be renumbered to a different SF | PASSED committee 2/19 |
| SF 2302 (previously SSB 3006) | An Act providing for career development information for students newly enrolling in institutions of higher education and including applicability provisions | PASSED committee 2/11 | |
| SF 2303 (previously SF 2063) | An Act providing for a review of undergraduate general education requirements and core curricula at regents institutions and authorizing elimination of certain required courses and course requirements | Amended in committee | PASSED committee 1/29 |
| SF 2336 (previously SSB 3095) | A bill for an act requiring annual reports on antisemitism in community colleges, regents institutions, and public school districts. | Amended in committee | PASSED committee 2/10 |
| SF 2359 (previously SF 2143) | A bill for an act relating to selection committees for presidents of regents institutions. | PASSED committee 2/16 | |
| SF 2365 (previously SSB 3159) | An Act relating to public improvement contracts, including notice requirements | PASSED committee 2/17 | |
| SF 2386 (previously SSB 3074) | A bill for an act relating to indirect costs charged to state-funded grants, and including applicability provisions. | PASSED committee 2/18 | |
| SF 2391 (previously SSB 3163) | 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. | PASSED committee 2/18 | |
| SF 2405 (previously SF 2174) | An Act relating to trainings and curricula regarding specific defined concepts provided by public institutions of higher education and school districts. | PASSED committee 2/18 | |
| SF 2407 (previously SSB 3164) | A bill for an act relating to education reporting, including the sharing of unit-level wage data for secondary and postsecondary program evaluation, the establishment of the condition of education report, consolidating certain required reports, modifying responsibilities for the future ready Iowa last-dollar scholarship report, modifying Iowa workforce development data-sharing provisions, and creating a return on investment reporting system to be overseen by the Iowa student aid commission. | PASSED committee 2/18 | |
| SF 2412 (previously SSB 3169) | A bill for an act relating to qualifications for state employment and professional licensure. | PASSED committee 2/18 | |
| SSB 3180 | A bill for an act providing for investment by regents institutions in certified innovation funds. | PASSED committee 2/19 |
Bills in Appropriations and Ways and Means committees are "funnel proof," meaning they also survive the funnel. They will require passage by their respective committees to be eligible for floor debate. Here is a list of those bills:
| Bill Number | Bill Title | Notes | Latest Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| HSB 655 | An Act relating to reports on major maintenance projects for state infrastructure. | In Appropriations Committee | |
| HF 2225 | An Act creating a new graduate nonresident tuition tax credit available against the individual income tax. | In Ways and Means Committee | |
| HF 2240 (previously HSB 544) | 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 | Amended in committee | PASSED Higher Education committee 1/28 In Ways and Means Committee |
| HF 2310 (previously HF 2057) | An Act providing a standing appropriation to the state board of regents for pediatric cancer research at the university of Iowa hospitals and clinics | PASSED Higher Education committee 2/4 In Appropriations Committee | |
| HF 2331 (previously HSB 532) | An Act creating an attorney loan repayment program, and making appropriations | Amended in committee | PASSED Higher Education committee 2/4 In Appropriations Committee |
| HF 2568 | A bill for an act establishing a temporary independent fiscal restructuring authority to provide oversight of institutions of higher education governed by the state board of regents. | In Appropriations Committee |