This year's state legislative session is the 60th anniversary year of creating Iowa's community college network, which has allowed Iowans across the state – in every county and community – to have access to excellent and affordable higher education. Our state legislative priorities meet today's challenges in higher education with right-sized solutions.
The handout above shares about CCforIowa's 2026 legislative priorities in greater detail:
60 years of Iowa community colleges!
With 2026 marking the 60th Anniversary of Iowa Community Colleges, this year’s legislative priorities are building on our strong foundation. Decades of important decisions by state legislators have led to every Iowan being able to live in their homes and work in their communities while enrolled in the higher education needed to grow in their careers.
Our successes include:
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Serving 100,000 Iowans a year
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15 distinct institutions
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Reaching all 99 counties
2026 Legislative Priorities
For community colleges to continue to excel in delivering our mission of accessible, excellent higher education, our advocacy centers on:
FUNDING: Community colleges are known for doing a lot with a little. Unfortunately, everything is getting more expensive, and every dollar is getting stretched further and further. To continue to offer Iowans affordable tuition and have a sustainable community college system, we are asking the legislature for an increase to match today’s costs of $12 million State General Aid.
PROGRAMS: Legislators shape programs that open doors for more Iowans to be able to enroll in higher education. The Last Dollar Scholarship is a state initiative to cover the gap for Iowans studying for high-demand jobs, and legislators choose the criteria for who is eligible, such as age, level of enrollment, and financial need. We are asking the legislature to ensure the funds for this program are all spent by expanding who can use it. We will work with the legislature on innovative paths and programs to serve students and grow Iowa’s workforce.
EFFECTIVENESS: As public entities, there are many ways the government guides how community colleges function. The model for the Iowa community college system is unique to our state, envisioned by state legislators. Its foundation allows for each institution to maintain local focus while providing the statewide coordination needed to ensure all 99 counties are being served effectively. We will work with legislators to assess processes and review our measured outcomes to maximize value.
What can you do next?
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Keep these priorities handy: The legislative priorities handout is available as a PDF here, and printed copies can be requested by contacting our staff member Annette Heffron at aheffron@ccforiowa.org.
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Become an advocate: Community college supporters are united and empowered through Quorum, our grassroots advocacy action center. Sign up, take action, and stay up to date on policies.
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Explore more of our advocacy resources: We have expansive resources already at your fingertips! This includes a bill tracker for community college-related legislation, a history of appropriations and programming, and legislative summary reports – all right here on our website.