Education bills clear legislative ‘funnel’ deadline. Here’s what Iowa lawmakers advanced

DES MOINES — Iowa House and Senate lawmakers Tuesday advanced bills aiming to — among other things — increase intellectual diversity on the University of Iowa campus and sexual abuse awareness and prevention education in schools, restrict state funds to libraries that are American Library Association members, and allow public schools to offer an elective social studies course on the Bible.

House lawmakers also unanimously advanced legislation that would make free feminine hygiene products accessible to middle and high school students in the state.

The bills passed House and Senate committees, clearing a Friday legislative deadline by which most non-tax and non-spending bills must be advanced out of committee to remain eligible for further consideration this year.

Creating new UI ‘School of Intellectual Freedom’

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Senate File 217 would require the University of Iowa to establish a “School of Intellectual Freedom.” A companion bill cleared the House Higher Education Committee last month, and is eligible for debate in the chamber.

The school “shall conduct teaching and research in the historical ideas, traditions and texts that have shaped the American constitutional order and society.”

The bill mandates instruction on American principles, ideals, historical texts and values of free speech and civil discourse, with the goal of “working to expand the intellectual diversity of the university’s academic community and foster civic engagement among university students and faculty.”

The legislation establishes the School of Intellectual Freedom as an independent academic unit within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Iowa. The bill authorizes the school to offer courses; develop certificate, minor, and major programs, as well as graduate programs; and offer degrees.

The bill requires the Board of Regents to establish an academic council no later than Dec. 31, 2025, to assist in the selection of a dean for the school. The dean will be responsible for faculty hiring, curriculum development, and oversight of the school’s operations. At least five tenure-eligible faculty members must be employed to provide instruction. The school may accept private and external donations, though all funds, including state appropriations, must be used solely for direct operational costs.

A fiscal note from the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency of the House version of the bill, estimates creation of the new UI school would cost $1.5 million per year. That includes $400,000 in annual salary and benefits to hire a dean of the school, $875,000 annually to pay faculty, $174,000 a year to pay administrative staff and $50,000 a year in programming expenses.

The dean would have the “sole and exclusive authority to manage the recruitment and hiring process and to extend offers for employment for all faculty and staff of the school and to terminate employment of all staff of the school.”

State Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, said the school is unneeded — as intellectual freedom is already “guaranteed at not just the University of Iowa but all of our public institutions of higher education” — and creates an unfunded mandate and personnel reviews for tenure inconsistent with standard practice.

Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, D-West Des Moines, said lawmakers’ time would be better spent focusing on ways to make higher education more attainable for Iowa students.

Sen. Kerry Gruenhagen, R-Walcott, said the new school that is in alignment with UI plans to create a new “Center for Civic Dialogue and Leadership.”

The Senate Education Committee advanced the bill, 11-5, with Democrats opposed.

Restricting state funds to public libraries

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The House Education Committee advanced House File 284, which would halt state funding to public libraries from the Enrich Iowa program if they are members of nationwide nonprofit organizations that promote federal and state legislation related to libraries and engage in advocacy efforts at the federal and state levels.

Enrich Iowa, run through the State Library of Iowa, appropriates money to libraries for open access, interlibrary loan reimbursement and direct state aid.

Though it is not specifically mentioned in the bill, supporters highlighted the American Library Association as the bill’s main target. The American Library Association is the largest library membership organization.

Rep. Helena Hayes, R-New Sharon, argued the ALA is politically motivated, and opposes all attempts to restrict access to library services, materials and facilities based on the age of library users.

“That's difficult for a lot of parents to swallow. There's perhaps a lack of common sense in that,” Hayes said.

The ALA, according to its website, believes everyone has the right to access information regardless of age, and that parents should be the primary decision-makers regarding what their children read. While not restricting access based on age, libraries can encourage parental involvement by providing information about materials and offering support for parents to make informed choices for their children, according to the association.

Opponents of the new bill say grants and advocacy efforts from groups like the ALA have helped libraries across the state stay open. Rep. Heather Matson, D-Ankeny, said the American Library Association has provided grants to Iowa libraries to increase access to library materials and resources.

“This bill is another in a line of fear mongering that simply isn’t true,” Matson said. “It is a false flag and it assumes worst intentions. Librarians aren’t trying to indoctrinate anyone. Libraries are not flush with cash, as was also suggested in the subcommittee, with no evidence. Librarians support the First Amendment’s freedom of speech and freedom of association. … The majority of small libraries rely not just on their professional associations, but also on Enrich Iowa just to stay open and meet the needs of their community.”

Matson added: “If this bill becomes law, prepare for your small town library to close.”

Hayes argued the bill does not prevent libraries from applying for grants, but aims to ensure state funds are used effectively.

The committee advanced the bill, 14-9, largely along party lines with Democrats opposed and most Republicans in favor.

A companion bill in the Senate advanced out of subcommittee last week.

Public school course on the Bible

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House and Senate committees also advanced legislation over objections from Democrats that would allow public schools to offer an elective social studies course on the Bible in grades 9-12.

Supporters say learning about the Bible is essential for understanding Western civilization and the values on which America was built, citing its influence on literature, culture and history.

Opponents, however, said the bill violates the First Amendment's Establishment Clause, which prohibits the government from passing laws that favor one religion over another.

Republicans advanced the proposal, touting its educational benefits.

Sen. Sandy Salmon, R-Janesville, noted the course could only be offered after being approved by a district’s school board and district improvement advisory committee.

Salmon said the bill focuses on the Bible because of Christianity’s influence on U.S. history and Western civilization.

Senate File 138 and House File 448 would direct the Iowa Board of Education to adopt rules for establishing course standards and teacher training for high schools to offer an elective social studies course that focuses on the Hebrew Scriptures or the Bible's Old and New Testament.

The purpose of the course would be to provide students with knowledge of “biblical content, characters, poetry and narratives that are prerequisites to understanding contemporary society and culture, and to familiarize students with the contents, history, literary style and structure” of the Hebrew Scriptures or the Bible.

A course offered under the bill would be subject to federal and state guidelines regarding religious neutrality “and shall recognize and accommodate the diverse religious views, traditions, and the perspectives of students enrolled in the school district.”

Teachers could not “endorse, favor, promote, or disfavor, or be hostile toward, any particular religion, faith, or non-religious perspective.”

“This bill sets up guidelines that meet court muster for teaching the Bible as an elective class, so that schools can be confident that there are no legal or constitutional issues with offering a course on the Bible,” Salmon said.

House and Senate Democrats argued religious education should be left to parents and religious institutions. They said the bill is unnecessary as public schools already can offer a comparative religion course in high schools, and suggested a broader survey of religious texts from major religions — not just the Bible — would be more inclusive and valuable for religious literacy.

Child sexual abuse awareness

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The Senate Education Committee also unanimously passed Senate File 172 that would require all Iowa schools to teach sexual abuse and sexual assault awareness and prevention to students in kindergarten through sixth grade. The Iowa Department of Education would be charged with offering age-appropriate and research-based curriculum for schools’ use.

To date, 38 states have passed a version of what has become known as Erin’s Law.

Lawmakers from both parties emphasized the importance of educating students on safe and unsafe touch, unsafe secrets, and how to report abuse.

The bill was amended to include an opt-out provision for parents who do not want their children to receive this education.

Feminine hygiene products in school restrooms

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The House Education Committee unanimously passed House File 543 that would require school boards ensure that free feminine hygiene products are accessible for students in all restrooms in public middle and high school buildings.

It also would require that students in sixth through 12th grades are notified that the supply of products is refilled regularly. Feminine hygiene products that would be offered include sanitary napkins, tampons or other “similar products used for feminine hygiene.”

The bill would provide funding for menstrual products in schools from July 1, 2025, through July 30, 2028, with an estimated cost of $200,000 per year.

Supporters noted a lack of access to feminine hygiene products can result in increased absenteeism.

The bill now heads to the House Appropriations Committee.

Erin Murphy and Maya Marchel Hoff of The Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau contributed to this report.

Comments: (319) 398-8499; tom.barton@thegazette.com