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Iowa regents to create ‘legislative committee’ to determine stance on bills
Committee also will ‘recommending any changes or suggestions regarding registered bills’
Feb. 24, 2025 5:30 am, Updated: Feb. 24, 2025 11:07 am
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With lobbyists for Iowa’s public universities lingering in an “undecided” state on dozens of measures introduced in the Iowa Legislature this session angling to reshape higher education, the Board of Regents this week will consider creating a “legislative committee” tasked with taking a position on pending bills.
“The committee’s primary responsibilities include evaluating relevant legislation, determining the board’s official stance, and recommending any changes or suggestions regarding registered bills,” according to a proposal for the committee, which would become inactive when the Legislature adjourns this spring.
Although the board’s four lobbyists have taken a few “for” or “against” positions on bills this session — but staying undecided on dozens of pieces of legislation that could affect the campuses they represent — the board in proposing the new committee reported its lobbyists annually register positions on more than 300 bills.
“Every year, new legislation is introduced that may significantly impact the Iowa Board of Regents System, either directly or indirectly,” according to the proposal.
If ratified at the regents meeting this week, Christine Hensley, a relatively recent addition to the board, will chair the four-member committee — which also will include board President Sherry Bates, President Pro Tem Greta Rouse and Regent JC Risewick.
Unlike other regent committees — like those considering facility projects or new academic programs — this new committee would hold weekly meetings, which would be open to the public.
“Any other members of the board may participate at their discretion,” according to a board agenda item proposing the new committee. “The position on legislation will be determined by consensus of the committee.”
The committee is expected to provide a report in April on what has and is expected to happen in the ongoing legislative session. The session is scheduled to end May 2, although lawmakers often go into overtime.
Higher education bills that have advanced through a committee to date include:
- House File 437, which would establish a School of Intellectual Freedom at the University of Iowa. All four regent lobbyists remain undecided on bill.
- HF402, which would require students to complete a course on American history and civil government to graduate from a public institute of higher education in Iowa. Regent lobbyists remain undecided on that proposal.
- HF401, which details general education requirements for students across the three public universities — including requirements they take three semester hours in both Western heritage and American heritage. Regent lobbyists remain undecided on this measure.
- HF269, which would bar the campuses from compelling any student or faculty member to participate in any diversity, equity and inclusion or critical race theory practices on campus — or to include any DEI or CRT-related content in their courses. Regent lobbyists have registered in favor of that bill.
Vanessa Miller covers higher education for The Gazette.
Comments: (319) 339-3158; vanessa.miller@thegazette.com
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