Legislative Update for 03/25/2022

There was plenty of action in the House this week which I’ll focus on for this newsletter. The House appropriations committee took up two major education bills. House File 2499 includes two provisions that were included in the Governor’s education policy bill related to transparency around curriculum and instruction, and civics instruction. Amendments were considered and adopted by the committee, and the bill now goes to the full chamber for consideration (renumbered HF2577). 

The committee also voted out the education appropriations bill, LSB5003. The bill includes funding for the Department of Education and several programs under our purview, as well as the Iowa College Student Aid Commission, community colleges, and State Board of Regents. Most items in the bill were level funded, including the Iowa Skilled Worker and Job Creation Fund program. The bill also proposes $6.5 million in additional funding for community college state general aid. 

The House proposed new funding for several programs, including for a partnership between the community colleges and University of Northern Iowa aimed at promoting postsecondary degree completion and transfer. There are also several line items for new programs which are contingent on the enactment of legislation currently working its way through the legislature (e.g., the comprehensive transition and postsecondary scholarship program in HF2495).

In the House Ways and Means committee, another of the Governor’s bills saw movement. Of particular interest to us is Division II of House File 2569 (previously HF2527), which calls for integrating work-based learning and FAFSA components into the individual career and academic planning process, establishing a new work-based learning program supervisor certification, and authorizes the department to establish work-based learning data reporting processes. The bill passed out of committee and moves to the full House for consideration. 

On the House floor, HF2567 (previously HF2505) was passed on a 98-0 vote following debate and amendment. The bill overall relates to the investigation and reporting of criminal allegations against licensed practitioners. It is a far reaching bill that makes changes related to mandatory reporting, establishes protocols to be followed by the Board of Educational Examiners related to investigations and retention of records, and imposes penalties for violating the provisions of the act. 

We’ll keep track of the action at the Statehouse and report back next week. Stay on your toes out there because this wind today is just straight up crazy. 

Eric St Clair
Legislative Liaison
Iowa Department of Education
Grimes State Office Building
400 E 14th St
Des Moines, IA 50319-0146
Cell: 515-326-0274
eric.stclair@iowa.gov