Iowa 2023-2024 Regular Session

Iowa House Bill HF2396

Introduced
2/8/24  

Caption

A bill for an act prohibiting school districts and charter schools from taking disciplinary action against employees, contractors, or students for the use of legal names, the use of student names as listed in school registration forms or records, or for the failure to use personal pronouns in official communications, and providing civil penalties.(Formerly HF 2139.)

Impact

If passed, HF2396 would significantly alter the approach educational institutions take regarding personal naming and identity management within the school environment. By prohibiting disciplinary actions based on best practices surrounding name usage, the bill empowers individuals to maintain their legal identity without fear of retribution. It would necessitate a reevaluation of existing school policies to ensure compliance with these new regulations, potentially affecting administrative protocols in schools across the state.

Summary

House File 2396 aims to prevent school districts and charter schools from imposing disciplinary actions against employees, contractors, or students solely for using legal names or student names as recorded in school documents. The bill explicitly states that addressing individuals using their legal names cannot result in any form of disciplinary measure. Furthermore, it also protects individuals from penalties for not using personal pronouns in official communications within educational settings.

Contention

Discussions around HF2396 may lead to contention regarding the implications of enforcing such protections on personal expression and identity within educational frameworks. Supporters argue that the bill promotes respect and recognition of individual rights, while opponents might raise concerns about its potential impact on workplace and educational environments, fearing it could create confusion over identity and accountability. The enforcement mechanisms through civil action reserve a pathway for employees to seek recourse if subjected to violations of the bill's stipulations, further complicating its implementation.

Companion Bills

IA HF2139

Similar To A bill for an act prohibiting school districts and charter schools from taking disciplinary action against employees, contractors, or students for the use of legal names or for the failure to use personal pronouns in official communications, and providing civil penalties.(See HF 2396.)

Previously Filed As

IA HF80

A bill for an act prohibiting school districts and charter schools from taking disciplinary action against employees, contractors, or students for the use of legal names, the use of student names as listed in school registration forms or records, or for the failure to use personal pronouns in official communications, and providing civil penalties.

IA SF8

A bill for an act prohibiting school districts and charter schools from taking disciplinary action against employees, contractors, or students for the use of legal names, the use of student names as listed in school registration forms or records, or for the failure to use personal pronouns in official communications, and providing civil penalties.

IA HF620

A bill for an act prohibiting school districts and charter schools from taking disciplinary action against employees, contractors, or students for the use of legal names or for the failure to use personal pronouns in official communications, and providing civil penalties.(Formerly HF 367.)

IA HF2139

A bill for an act prohibiting school districts and charter schools from taking disciplinary action against employees, contractors, or students for the use of legal names or for the failure to use personal pronouns in official communications, and providing civil penalties.(See HF 2396.)

IA HF367

A bill for an act prohibiting school districts and charter schools from taking disciplinary action against employees, contractors, or students for the use of legal names or for the failure to use personal pronouns in official communications.(See HF 620.)

IA HF362

A bill for an act relating to public education, including participation in surveys, analyses, activities, or evaluations by students, employees, and contractors of school districts or charter schools and prohibiting the use of certain resources or materials related to social and emotional learning.

IA HF884

A bill for an act authorizing school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to employ chaplains, or engage volunteer chaplains, to provide services to students. (Formerly HF 334.)

IA SF496

A bill for an act relating to children and students, including establishing a parent's or guardian's right to make decisions affecting the parent's or guardian's child, authorizing the parent or guardian of a student enrolled in a school district to enroll the student in another attendance center within the same school district in certain specified circumstances, prohibiting instruction related to gender identity and sexual orientation in school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools in kindergarten through grade six, and modifying provisions related to student health screenings, school district library programs, the educational program provided to students enrolled in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools, other duties of school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, the department of education, the board of educational examiners, and the governing boards of charter schools and innovation zone schools, competent private instruction, and special education, and including effective date provisions. (Formerly SSB 1145.) Effective date: 05/26/2023, 07/01/2023.

IA HB1361

Schools; definitions; prohibiting school personnel and students from requesting and using certain pronouns or alternate names in certain situations; effective date; emergency.

IA HB121

Provides relative to the use of certain names and pronouns for students

Similar Bills

IA HF80

A bill for an act prohibiting school districts and charter schools from taking disciplinary action against employees, contractors, or students for the use of legal names, the use of student names as listed in school registration forms or records, or for the failure to use personal pronouns in official communications, and providing civil penalties.

IA SF8

A bill for an act prohibiting school districts and charter schools from taking disciplinary action against employees, contractors, or students for the use of legal names, the use of student names as listed in school registration forms or records, or for the failure to use personal pronouns in official communications, and providing civil penalties.

IA HF367

A bill for an act prohibiting school districts and charter schools from taking disciplinary action against employees, contractors, or students for the use of legal names or for the failure to use personal pronouns in official communications.(See HF 620.)

IA HF620

A bill for an act prohibiting school districts and charter schools from taking disciplinary action against employees, contractors, or students for the use of legal names or for the failure to use personal pronouns in official communications, and providing civil penalties.(Formerly HF 367.)

IA HF2139

A bill for an act prohibiting school districts and charter schools from taking disciplinary action against employees, contractors, or students for the use of legal names or for the failure to use personal pronouns in official communications, and providing civil penalties.(See HF 2396.)

CA SB610

Contractors: licensing and regulation.

FL H1163

Regulation of Water Resources

CA AB2329

Pupil health: eye examinations: schoolsites.