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The Legislature made significant progress on one of the Governor’s policy priorities for this session. Introduced as House Study Bill 1 and Senate Study Bill 1022, the Student First Scholarship Act would establish a framework and funding for education savings accounts which may be used by families to cover qualified education expenses at eligible nonpublic schools in Iowa.
On Tuesday evening, the House Education Reform Committee held a well-attended public hearing on HSB1. On Wednesday, the House Education Reform Committee met and through a procedure known as “subcommittee of the whole”, passed the bill through both subcommittee and the full committee in one sitting. Typically a bill that makes or impacts a state appropriation is sent to the House Appropriations Committee for review, but a new rule in the House allows for a bill assigned to the House Education Reform Committee to bypass this procedure and proceed to the full Chamber. Accordingly, the bill - renumbered House File 68 - is eligible for consideration on the floor and is on the House debate calendar for Monday, January 23.
The Senate Education Committee considered the companion bill to HSB1, SSB1022, which advanced along a party-line vote and was renumbered Senate File 94. The bill was subsequently assigned to the Senate Appropriations Committee, which took up the bill using the same “subcommittee of the whole” procedure as used by the House Education Reform Committee. The bill advanced out of committee and is also eligible for floor debate in the Senate.
The House Education Appropriations Subcommittee met on Wednesday and heard a presentation and analysis from the Legislative Services Agency (LSA) on the Governor’s fiscal year 2024 budget recommendations. The Education Appropriations Subcommittee is responsible for approving appropriations for the Department for the Blind, the College Student Aid Commission, the Department of Education, and the Board of Regents. State Foundation School Aid is not a part of these appropriations. The Senate Education Appropriation Subcommittee has not scheduled its first meeting.
Other action on bills this week includes:
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HF10 - relating to requirements for mandatory reporters, a process for investigating complaints against licensed practitioners, and responsibilities related to various education entities. A subcommittee considered the bill on January 17 and recommended passage of the bill, with amendment.
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HF12 - relating to social studies instruction and the teaching of certain concepts related to political ideologies. A subcommittee considered the bill on January 18 and recommended passage of the bill.
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SF49 - relating to the date for an election to authorize the issuance of certain indebtedness by school districts, changing the frequency of election to every 2 years instead of 6 months under current statute. A subcommittee considered the bill on January 17 and returned the bill to committee without recommendation.
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SSB1037 - repealing gender balance on appointive boards, commissions, committees, and councils. A subcommittee considered the bill on January 18 and recommended passage of the bill.
Looking to next week, watch for movement on the House floor regarding the Student First Scholarship Act. Given how the House and Senate have mostly proceeded in lock-step, it seems reasonable to conclude that the Senate will shortly take up the bill as well. Make sure to follow the bill tracker on the Department’s website to stay up-to-speed on what we are watching at the Capitol.
Eric St Clair
Legislative Liaison
Iowa Department of Education
Grimes State Office Building
515-326-0274
eric.stclair@iowa.gov
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