State: Legislative Session and Advocacy in Overtime
The 2026 Legislative session is officially in overtime as we have passed the 100th day of session, April 21st. Lawmakers are no longer receiving per diem for their expenses and are having to pay these costs for the remainder of the session. Since Iowa is a citizen-legislature, they are also taking time away from their jobs, communities, and families to continue this work. Don't forget to thank them for their service to the state when reaching out.
While they are all motivated to wrap things up ASAP, there are still several key outstanding issues that they need/want to tackle before going home, including a resolution on state budgets and property taxes. The chambers have started to pass budgets bills this week, with all but the standings budget getting introduced. However, negotiations on property taxes are ongoing.
Agreements on these issues are still not final, so please continue to advocate for Iowa community colleges! We have three campaigns happening right now that amount to millions of dollars of funding. Be sure to send a message to Tell your Representative and Senator the Impact of Property Tax Reform on Iowa Community Colleges and “Preserve 260E Industrial New Jobs Training Program”. And please encourage folks in your circle who care about community colleges to write a message, too!
Federal: Proposed Accreditation Accountability Rules
The U.S. Department of Education published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on April 20, 2026, that are an interpretation of portions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that restructured federal student aid policy. The rules would establish the Student Tuition and Transparency System (STATS) and a new framework for programmatic earnings accountability.
The new accountability framework consolidates three current regulatory systems: replacing the existing Financial Value Transparency framework with STATS, updating Gainful Employment (GE) regulations, and implements the new earnings accountability requirements. Theoretically, creating a unified accountability system that applies the same across all Title IV programs.
Most impactful, is the new earnings accountability requirement that implements an “earnings premium measure,” which compares the earnings of program completers who received Title IV aid against a relevant earnings threshold. Bachelor's and associate degree holders must earn more than the median earnings of working adults aged 25-34 who only hold a high-school degree. While graduate degree holders must earn more than the median earnings of similarly aged adults who only hold a bachelor’s degree. Programs that fail this test in two consecutive years are considered low-earning and are no longer eligible for the Federal Direct Loan Program. Institutions can appeal the determination from the DE, but they must go through a two-year waiting period before seeking to reestablish eligibility.
The primary difference between STATS and current Financial Value Transparency system is the increase of public disclosure requirements. The ED will maintain a website with program-level data that an institution must link to on any of their webpages containing academic cost, financial aid, or admissions information. Additionally, students must receive this information before enrolling in the institution.
Comments on the proposed rules are due May 20, 2026. Here is a more detailed summary from the National College Attainment Network.