As we reported last week, the chairs of the House and Senate Ways and Means Committees unveiled a revised version of their proposed changes to the property tax bill. While the new bills made some changes, one thing is a constant between version 1.0 and 2.0—limits on the ability to levy taxes for the management fund. Read a full bill summary as well as advocacy on this proposal. 

Check out the tools below for IASB’s analysis of the impact of these proposals:

• FY 2026–27 Property Tax Levy Cost Calculator
• Estimated Property Tax Law Changes for Select Non-General Fund Levies 
• Management Fund Modeling Tool

View the video below for a tutorial led by IASB Associate Executive Director of Government Relations & School Finance Mike Guanci on how to use the Management Fund Modeling Tool to review historical Management Fund trends for your district, and how the provisions of HSB 328/SSB 1227 may impact your Management Fund in future years. 

SF 175—Human Growth and Development Curriculum Requirements: This bill would require school districts to provide instruction on fetal development with a video, ultrasound, or real images in grades 5-12. The instruction cannot be provided or produced by an entity that performs or promotes abortion.

IASB is registered opposed to the bill, as we are on all curriculum mandates. We are opposed to the process rather than the content. We think the legislature should develop broad requirements, like human growth and development, the State Board of Education then develops content standards and local school districts should be able to choose a curriculum to meet those standards. The bill passed the House by a vote of 60-31 and passed the Senate by a vote of 33-16. It will now be sent to Governor Reynolds for her consideration.  

HF 835—Mandatory Seizure Disorder Training: This bill would require training for school personnel related to seizure disorders. At least one person in every school building, starting July 1, 2025, would be required to administer medication to a student experiencing a seizure. A school nurse would meet this requirement. All school personnel, by December 31, 2026, would be required to receive training on how to recognize the signs and symptoms of seizure and steps for seizure first aid.

Additionally, the bill creates a workgroup made up of people from both education and healthcare that would establish a schedule of mandatory trainings for school personnel. Any time there is a training someone wants added, the group will consider if it is necessary and how it would be added to the schedule of existing trainings.   
IASB has been registered opposed to the bill because it increases the number of mandatory trainings for teachers; however, the addition of the workgroup is a good compromise and something we have been pushing for several years. Now that the workgroup is added to the bill, we are in favor. The bill passed the House by a vote of 95-2 and passed the Senate by a vote of 49-0. It will now be sent to Governor Reynolds for her consideration.  

The bill requires the Department of Education to work with the Department of Transportation to establish requirements for providers of entry-level driver training. They will establish content standards, contact hours, and proficiency standards. They will also establish a standard course duration.  

IASB is registered in support of the bill. We hope it makes bus driver training more consistent while allowing districts to choose what they require of their bus drivers. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 50-0 and has been sent to the House for their concurrence.  

HF 299—Immunization Exemptions: This bill requires school districts to post information about immunization exemptions on their website and provide the information in registration materials.    

IASB is registered undecided on the bill because the requirements are reasonably easy for schools to meet. The bill passed the House by a vote of 58–30 and passed the Senate by a vote of 32-16. It will now be sent to Governor Reynolds for her consideration.   

HF 865—Bullying and Harassment Definition: This bill changes the definition of bullying and harassment by removing the words “based on any actual or perceived trait or characteristic of the student.” Bullying and harassment must be targeted and repeated behavior.

IASB is registered undecided. We’re not sure why the change is needed but think districts will still be able to protect students from bullying and harassment in all forms, even with the new definition. The bill passed the House by a vote of 64-33 and passed the Senate by a vote of 32-16. It will now be sent to Governor Reynolds for her consideration.   

SSB 1231—Senate & Governor Proposal for Education Appropriations: This is the budget bill that has been agreed to by the Senate and the governor. 

Overall, the bill appropriates $1.026 billion to education, including to regent universities and community colleges. Please note that supplemental state aid (SSA) is separate from this bill. 

Some important line items in the bill include: 

• $2.3 million for therapeutic classrooms.

• $265,000 for the TeachIowa job posting site.

• $10 million for the Division of Special Education with the DE.

• $2.1 million for professional development.

• $1.5 million for Educators for Iowa, which provides stipends or tuition reimbursement for teacher prep students who are student teaching. It’s within the University of Northern Iowa’s budget.  

• $650,000 for the Teach Iowa Scholar program. This provides student loan repayment to teachers. 

• $9,646,450 for iJAG programs.

IASB is registered undecided on the bill. It passed a subcommittee and will now be considered by the full Senate Appropriations Committee. 

HSB 337—House Proposal for Education Appropriations: This bill has been proposed by the House and is slightly different than the proposal from the Senate. Overall, the budget allocates $1.042 billion to education, higher than the number agreed to by the Senate and Governor. Some notable differences: 

• $500,000 more for iJAG, which amounts to $10,146,450. 

• $5 million less for the Division of Special Education with the Department of Education. 

• $8 million more for community colleges. 

Most of the differences are in higher education, but all of these will need to be worked out between the two chambers. 

The bill passed the Education Appropriations Subcommittee and will next be considered by the full House Appropriations Committee. 

HSB 335—House Proposal for Standing Appropriations: This bill, proposed only by the House, encompasses many areas, but most importantly for schools, it provides $14 million to education support personnel compensation. It provides funding for both next school year, 2025-26, and the year after, 2026-27. Districts will report the number of education support personnel they employ to the Department of Education to receive funding. It will be distributed with normal state aid payments.

Additionally, as is now standard, the bill provides no money for instructional support. 
IASB is registered in support of the bill. We know how important any extra compensation is for these crucial support employees. The bill has not been considered yet.  

• Funding incentives for preschool programs and childcare providers who work collaboratively to provide a “continuum of care” for young students. 

• Requiring all districts to have a policy that restricts cell phone use during instructional time. The legislation will serve as a minimum requirement and allow districts to do more if they choose.

• An emphasis on math education through early identification, progress monitoring, and evidence-based intervention, as well as professional development for teachers and resources for parents to use at home.  

• Passage of the U.S. Citizenship test as a graduation requirement to enhance civics education. 

• Reinstating the Teach Iowa job site within the department of education (and xxx funding). 

• Changes to the paraeducator apprenticeship program to provide additional flexibilities including elimination of the need to have a paraeducator certificate and a job offer before securing a teacher intern license.