Mar 13, 2026
This Week at the Statehouse - Week 9
One week closer to the second funnel, both chambers continued to advance bills with more than 50 seeing floor action between the two chambers this week.
Next Friday, March 20, marks the "second funnel" deadline. After that deadline, bills only remain viable if they have passed the opposite chamber's committee (Senate files out of House committees and vice versa), the bill has a companion in the other chamber that already cleared committee, or the bill is in the Ways and Means or Appropriations committee. After the 20th will be a clearer picture of which bills survive and which will not. As always, ideas can still appear at any point through amendments.
This week saw advancement of a number of bills affecting the universities, notably:
- HF 2245 – University Presidential Search – Amended on the floor allowing for the candidates' names to be made public only if the board of Regent members of the search committee agree. Passed the House 63–27.
- HF 2361 – Gen Ed History and Civic Course Requirement – Amended on the floor moving the required review by the Board of general education courses to the start of the Fall 2028 semester. Passed the House 58-33.
- HF 2362 – Tuition Guarantee – Amended on the floor to cap any future tuition increases to a rolling three-year average of HEPI and clarifying that students opt into tuition guarantee by paying a fee of up to 10% of their first‑year’s tuition. Passed the House 87-4.
- HF 2487 – DEI Course Content Prohibition – Passed the House 62-27.
- SF 2453 – Endowment Into Innovation – Requires the Regents universities to invest 1% of their non-restricted endowments in innovation funds certified by the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Passed the Senate 45-0.
While these bills have advanced, there are still procedural steps each needs to go through before any final action can occur.
Other items of note from this week:
- Revenue Estimating Conference (REC) met Thursday and finalized the revenue figures lawmakers will use as they begin building the FY 2027 state budget. The new estimate projects about $8.47 billion revenue for FY 2027, which is a 4.4% increase over the revised FY 2026 estimate. While this shows modest growth, the updated numbers continue to reflect lower revenue levels than in prior years. Budget conversations are expected to start now as legislators use these figures to determine available funding for FY 2027.
- Property tax reform conversations continued on Wednesday as Senate Ways and Means Committee passed their proposal, SSB 3001, out of committee. The House proposal and the Governor’s proposal have passed out of subcommittee earlier in session but have advanced no further at this point.
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 may 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.
Status of First Funnel Survivors:
| 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 | On Senate Calendar | |
| HF 703 | An Act concerning information regarding certain state and federal student loan programs | Passed both House and Senate | |
| HF 2066 | An Act relating to the terms of service of certain statewide boards | ||
| HF 2189 (previously HSB 567) | An Act relating to public improvement contracts, including notice requirements | Companion to SF 2365 | |
| 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 Senate Subcommittee | |
| 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 | Companion to SF 2222 | |
| HF 2241 (previously HSB 540) | An Act providing for partial liability of regents institutions for defaulted educational loans | ||
| 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 | In Senate Committee | |
| 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 | Language amended on to HF 2547 | |
| HF 2245 (previously HSB 538) | An Act relating to selection committees for presidents of regents institutions | Companion to SF 2359 | Passed House 3/12 |
| 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 | In Senate Committee | |
| HF 2294 (previously HSB 580) | An Act relating to the filing of complaints with the Iowa public information board | In Senate Committee | |
| HF 2304 (previously HSB 642) | An Act relating to indirect costs charged to state-funded grants, and including applicability provisions | Companion to SF 2386 | |
| HF 2330 (previously HSB 582) | A bill for an act relating to public records requests. | In Senate Committee | |
| HF 2339 (previously HSB 547) | An Act regarding student admission factors to regents universities | ||
| HF 2361 (previously HSB 543) | An Act relating to general education requirements, core curricula, other functions of regents institutions, and including applicability provisions | Companion to SF 2232 | Passed House 3/12 |
| HF 2362 (previously HSB 549) | An Act relating to tuition charged to resident undergraduate students enrolled at regents institutions | Companion to SF 2227 | Passed House 3/12 |
| 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. | ||
| 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 | Companion to SF 2303 | Passed House 3/12 |
| HF 2489 (previously HSB 548) | An Act directing regents institutions to sign the federal Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education | ||
| HF 2490 (previously HSB 578) | An Act relating to public notice requirements for meetings of a governmental body | Passed Senate Subcommittee | |
| 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. | In Senate Committee | |
| HF 2500 (previously HSB 583) | An Act relating to contracts entered into by state agencies and including applicability provisions | Companion to SF 2206 | On Senate Calendar |
| HF 2502 (previously SB 579) | An Act relating to paid parental leave for state employees | In Senate Committee | |
| 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. | House amendment removed civics exam requirement for regents' students | In Senate Committee |
| 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. | House amendment added community and private colleges | On Senate Calendar |
| HF 2517 (previously HSB 634) | A bill for an act relating to the display of flags at half-staff on public buildings. | Companion to SF 2430 SF 2430 passed Senate | On House Calendar |
| 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 | ||
| HF 2539 (previously HSB 607) | A bill for an act repealing certain programs and other matters relating to higher education. | In Senate Committee | |
| 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 | Teacher prep language from this bill amended on to SF 2224 | |
| HF 2544 (previously HSB 646) | An Act requiring annual reports on antisemitism in community colleges, regents institutions, and public school districts | Companion to SF 2336 | |
| 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 | HF 2243 language amended onto HF 2547 by House | Passed Senate Subcommittee |
| HF 2587 (previously HF 2194) | A bill for an act relating to the membership of the Iowa law enforcement academy council. | ||
| 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. | Companion to SF 2412 SF 2412 passed Senate | On House Calendar |
| 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. | Companion to SF 2391 | Passed both House and Senate |
| HF 2637 (previously HSB 652) | An Act relating to the confidentiality of peer support communications for public safety officers. | ||
| 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 House 3/12 | |
| HF 2691 (previously HSB 635) | An Act relating to the ownership of artificial intelligence output and trained artificial intelligence | Companion to SF 2691 | |
| HF 2711 (previously HSB 668) | An Act relating to state policies, programs, and licenses with race, gender, or citizenship requirements. | Passed Senate Subcommittee | |
| HF 2725 (previously 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. | Companion to SF 2407 | |
| SF 487 | An Act relating to employer recordkeeping and auditing requirements for purposes of unemployment insurance and including applicability provisions. | In House Committee | |
| 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 House Subcommittee | |
| SF 2199 (previously SSB 3013) | An Act relating to the ownership of artificial intelligence output and trained artificial intelligence | Companion to HF 2691 | |
| SF 2206 (previously SSB 3030) | An Act relating to contracts entered into by state agencies and including applicability provisions | Companion to HF 2500 HF 2500 passed House | On Senate Calendar |
| SF 2207 (previously SF 2037) | An Act relating to the submission of proposed legislation by state departments and agencies | Passed House Subcommittee | |
| 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 | Companion to HF 2230 | |
| 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 | ||
| SF 2224 (previously SSB 3050) | An Act relating to computer science education, including by modifying provisions related to standards for computer science education, the curriculum provided to students enrolled in grades nine through twelve, and practitioner preparation programs | Teacher prep from HF 2540 was amended on to the bill | In House Committee |
| SF 2227 (previously SF 2002) | An Act relating to tuition charged to resident undergraduate students enrolled at regents institutions | Companion to HF 2362 | |
| SF 2232 (previously SF 2033) | An Act relating to general education requirements, core curricula, other functions of regents institutions | Companion to HF 2361 | |
| SF 2263 | A bill for an act relating to the carrying, transportation, and possession of weapons. | Regents were removed in amendment on Senate floor | Passed House Subcommittee |
| 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 | ||
| 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 | Companion to HF 2487 | |
| SF 2336 (previously SSB 3095) | A bill for an act requiring annual reports on antisemitism in community colleges, regents institutions, and public school districts. | Companion to HF 2544 | |
| SF 2359 (previously SF 2143) | A bill for an act relating to selection committees for presidents of regents institutions. | Companion to HF 2245 | |
| SF 2365 (previously SSB 3159) | An Act relating to public improvement contracts, including notice requirements | Companion to HF 2189 | |
| SF 2386 (previously SSB 3074) | A bill for an act relating to indirect costs charged to state-funded grants, and including applicability provisions. | Companion to HF 2304 | |
| 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. | See HF 2610 | Substituted for HF 2610 |
| 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. | ||
| 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. | Companion to HF 2725 | |
| SF 2412 (previously SSB 3169) | A bill for an act relating to qualifications for state employment and professional licensure. | Companion to HF 2608 | On House Calendar |
| SF 2424 | 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 2430 (previously SSB 3134) | A bill for an act relating to the display of flags at half-staff on public buildings. | Companion to HF 2517 | On House Calendar |
| SF 2453 (previously SSB 3180) | A bill for an act providing for investment by regents institutions in certified innovation funds. | Passed Senate 3/12 | |
| SF 2455 (previously SSB 3177) | An Act relating to insurance coverage for emergency services, reimbursements for out-of-network providers, and complicating factors |
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 | 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 | In Appropriations Committee | |
| HF 2331 (previously HSB 532) | An Act creating an attorney loan repayment program, and making appropriations | 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 | |
| SF 2461 (previously SF 2388 and SSB 3176) | A bill for an act establishing continuing appropriations in fiscal years for which the general assembly does not pass an annual budget. | On Senate Calendar |