With the second funnel deadline approaching, much of the legislative focus this week continued to be on floor debate. Lawmakers worked to advance key bills through their respective chambers to keep them viable for the remainder of the session. While this meant fewer committee updates, it provided insight into legislative priorities and the trajectory of important proposals. I'll be covering the latest developments and what they mean for community colleges in this week's issue.
BILLS THAT MOVED THIS WEEK:
House File 295 prohibits an accrediting agency from taking any adverse action against a public institution of higher education for complying with a state law or refusing to violate a state law; it passed the House on Tuesday (65-32) and has been referred to the Senate Education Committee. House File 401 requires the state board of regents to develop and adopt a policy establishing general education requirements for undergraduate students; two clean-up amendments were adopted on Tuesday, the bill then passed the House (61-36), and has now been referred to the Senate Education Committee. House File 711 relates to the practice of barbering and cosmetology arts and sciences, and an amendment (that our team helped draft) was adopted to remove language prohibiting board approval of programs of study that would be substantially duplicative of an approved program currently operating in this state; the bill then passed the House (67-29) and was attached to Senate File 551. House File 722 relates to workforce training, unemployment insurance, adult education, and other functions and programs of the department of workforce development, the workforce development board, and local workforce development boards; it has since been withdrawn and been substituted by Senate File 603. House File 782 relates to electronic devices in schools, including student access during instructional hours, school safety plans, and instruction related to the effects of social media in grades six through eight; after an unsuccessful adoption of an amendment, it passed the House (88-9) and has now been attached to Senate File 370. House File 805 allows a person to practice as a dental assistant without being registered by the dental board if the person completes a term of practical training under the supervision of a dentist; two amendments were filed this week. Amendment H-1100 adds a definition of dental assistant to include registered and unregistered dental assistants; and Amendment H-1104 adds a definition of dental assistant to only include those that are registered. House File 856 prohibits state entities from expending moneys to fund diversity, equity, and inclusion offices or to hire individuals to serve as diversity, equity, and inclusion officers; Amendment H-1094 was adopted which includes us in the prohibitions and seeks to combine all anti-DEI legislation from this year. On Tuesday, the bill then passed the House (61-37) and has been referred to the Senate Education Committee. House File 889 relates to government employee paid leave and a fiscal note was filed yesterday. House File 890 relates to education, including by modifying provisions related to community college and department of education reporting requirements and passed the House Monday (96-0); it has now been attached to Senate File 520. House File 891 relates to minors present at drag shows; a fiscal note was filed on Monday, as well as an Amendment which would remove the establishment of a private civil cause of action. House Study Bill 310 relates to economic development programs administered by the economic development authority; it passed out of subcommittee on Wednesday.
Senate File 137 relates to short course law enforcement training requirements; its assigned subcommittee passed it on to the Public Safety Committee on Tuesday. Senate File 288 relates to students who are pregnant or who recently gave birth who attend community colleges; an amendment was filed and adopted that moves complaints from the Iowa office of civil rights to the institution employee who coordinates the institution's compliance with Title IX. The bill then passed the Senate (47-0). Senate File 370 relates to electronic devices in schools, including student access during instructional hours, school safety plans, and instruction related to the effects of social media in grades six through eight; it has been attached to House File 782. Senate File 442 relates to education, including by modifying provisions related to the calculation of the teacher salary supplement district cost per pupil, teacher preparation requirements, out-of-state placement of certain specified students requiring special education, the duties of the department of education, and minimum teacher salaries; it was attached to House File 787. Senate File 520 relates to education, including by modifying provisions related to community college and department of education reporting requirements, the national board certification pilot project, and employees of the Iowa educational services for the blind and visually impaired program or the Iowa school for the deaf; it was attached to House File 890. Senate File 551 relates to barbering and cosmetology arts and sciences; it was attached to House File 711. Senate File 603 relates to workforce training, unemployment insurance, adult education, and other functions and programs of the department of workforce development, the workforce development board, and local workforce development boards; this bill was substituted for House File 722, an amendment was adopted to prohibit restrictions on apprenticeships by cities and counties, and then passed the House (64-34). A fiscal note was filed Wednesday, the Senate concurred with the amended bill, and then passed the Senate (32-15).
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