House File 263 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 263 BY EHLERT , B. MEYER , WILSON , LEVIN , OLSON , WILBURN , AMOS JR. , MADISON , CROKEN , R. JOHNSON , WICHTENDAHL , BAGNIEWSKI , KRESSIG , JAMES , MATSON , KURTH , and BROWN-POWERS A BILL FOR An Act relating to physical activity requirements applicable to 1 students enrolled in public schools and accredited nonpublic 2 schools. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 2318YH (7) 91 jda/jh
H.F. 263 Section 1. Section 256.11, subsection 6, paragraph b, 1 subparagraph (1), Code 2025, is amended to read as follows: 2 (1) All In addition to the physical education curriculum 3 required under subsection 3, physically able students in 4 kindergarten through grade five who are not suspended or 5 expelled shall be required to engage in a physical activity for 6 a minimum of thirty minutes per school day. A school shall 7 not prevent a student from engaging in a physical activity 8 as required in this subparagraph unless one of the following 9 applies: 10 (a) The student poses a danger to the health or safety of a 11 school employee, contractor, or another student. 12 (b) Due to inclement weather, the school relocates physical 13 activity that was to take place outdoors. 14 (c) The school dismisses classes early due to unforeseen 15 circumstances, including inclement weather or loss of utilities 16 services. 17 (d) The student is absent from school, including due to 18 illness or a medical appointment, during the time of the school 19 day that the school provides for the students class to engage 20 in physical activity. 21 EXPLANATION 22 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 23 the explanations substance by the members of the general assembly. 24 This bill relates to physical activity requirements 25 applicable to students enrolled in public schools and 26 accredited nonpublic schools. 27 Current law requires all physically able students in 28 kindergarten through grade five to engage in a physical 29 activity for a minimum of 30 minutes per school day, which may 30 include physical education. The bill provides that physical 31 education shall not be used to meet this physical activity 32 requirement. 33 The bill provides that the physical activity requirement 34 shall not apply when a student is suspended or expelled. The 35 -1- LSB 2318YH (7) 91 jda/jh 1/ 2
H.F. 263 bill also provides that a school shall not prevent a student 1 from engaging in 30 minutes of physical activity per school 2 day unless the student poses a danger to the health or safety 3 of certain specified persons, the school relocates physical 4 activity that was to take place outdoors due to inclement 5 weather, the school dismisses classes early due to unforeseen 6 circumstances, or the student is absent from school, including 7 due to illness or a medical appointment, during the time of the 8 school day that the school provides for the students class to 9 engage in physical activity. 10 -2- LSB 2318YH (7) 91 jda/jh 2/ 2