House File 576 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 576 BY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION (SUCCESSOR TO HF 115) A BILL FOR An Act providing penalties for certain nonimmigrant visa 1 holders attending or employed by certain institutions of 2 higher education who express support for certain terrorist 3 activities or organizations and including effective date 4 provisions. 5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 6 TLSB 1750HV (1) 91 je/jh
H.F. 576 Section 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act shall be known and may be 1 cited as the Combatting Terrorist Sympathizers Act. 2 Sec. 2. Section 256.183, subsection 1, unnumbered paragraph 3 1, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows: 4 Accredited private institution means an institution of 5 higher learning located in Iowa which is operated privately 6 and not controlled or administered by any state agency or 7 any subdivision of the state and which meets the criteria in 8 paragraphs a and b and all of the criteria in paragraphs d 9 through j k , except that institutions defined in paragraph 10 c of this subsection are exempt from the requirements of 11 paragraphs a and b : 12 Sec. 3. Section 256.183, subsection 1, Code 2025, is amended 13 by adding the following new paragraph: 14 NEW PARAGRAPH . k. Adopts a policy for compliance with 15 chapter 261K. 16 Sec. 4. NEW SECTION . 261K.1 Definitions. 17 As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise 18 requires: 19 1. Institution of higher education means an institution of 20 higher learning governed by the state board of regents or an 21 accredited private institution as defined in section 256.183. 22 2. Nonimmigrant visa includes but is not limited to visa 23 categories F-1, M-1, and J-1. 24 3. Terrorist activity and terrorist organization mean the 25 same as defined in 8 U.S.C. 1182. 26 Sec. 5. NEW SECTION . 261K.2 Policy on nonimmigrant visa 27 holders support of terrorist activities or organizations 28 suspension, expulsion, or termination of employment. 29 Each institution of higher education shall adopt and enforce 30 a policy that does all of the following: 31 1. Prohibits a student, faculty member, and staff member, 32 if the individual holds a nonimmigrant visa, from publicly 33 espousing terrorist activity related to an ongoing conflict or, 34 at any time or place, persuading others to endorse or espouse 35 -1- LSB 1750HV (1) 91 je/jh 1/ 5
H.F. 576 terrorist activity related to an ongoing conflict or to support 1 a terrorist organization unless it is the policy or practice of 2 the United States to support such activity or organization. 3 2. Upon suspecting or receiving a credible allegation 4 that an individual has violated the policy, provides for 5 an investigation of the individual by the institution and, 6 if warranted by the factual results of the investigation, 7 enforcement of the policy against the individual. 8 3. Upon a first finding of guilt of or responsibility for a 9 violation of subsection 1 by a preponderance of the evidence, 10 provides for the suspension of a student or termination of a 11 faculty or staff members employment for at least one year. 12 4. Upon a second finding of guilt of or responsibility for 13 a violation of subsection 1 by a preponderance of the evidence, 14 provides for the expulsion of a student or termination of a 15 faculty or staff members employment permanently. 16 5. Immediately upon suspending or expelling a student 17 or terminating a faculty or staff members employment under 18 subsection 3 or 4, requires the institution to update the 19 individuals record in the federal department of homeland 20 securitys student exchange visitor information system or a 21 successor system to show that the individual is no longer 22 enrolled as a full-time student of the institution or employed 23 by the institution. 24 6. Prohibits a student, faculty member, or staff member 25 from transferring to, enrolling at, or becoming employed by the 26 institution if the individual has been suspended, expelled, or 27 terminated from employment by another institution of higher 28 education under subsection 4. 29 Sec. 6. NEW SECTION . 261K.3 Enforcement against 30 institutions attorney general ineligibility for tuition 31 grants. 32 1. The attorney general shall enforce this chapter and 33 may investigate suspected violations of this chapter by an 34 institution of higher education. 35 -2- LSB 1750HV (1) 91 je/jh 2/ 5
H.F. 576 2. The attorney general may compel production of documents 1 and other evidence from an institution suspected of violating 2 this chapter, including all education and employment records 3 and other relevant records. 4 3. a. The attorney general may bring an action against 5 an institution of higher education for a writ of mandamus to 6 compel the institution to comply with this chapter. 7 b. Upon a determination by the court that an institution 8 of higher education that is not a regents institution has 9 violated this chapter, the institution shall be ineligible to 10 receive funds from the state for tuition grants under chapter 11 256, subchapter VII, part 4, subpart B, for the academic year 12 beginning after the date of the finding. The attorney general 13 shall petition the court to make such a determination. The 14 court shall submit a copy of the determination to the college 15 student aid commission. 16 Sec. 7. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect December 31, 17 2025. 18 EXPLANATION 19 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 20 the explanations substance by the members of the general assembly. 21 This bill requires an institution of higher education to 22 adopt and enforce a policy relating to certain expressions of 23 support for terrorist activities or organizations, as defined 24 under federal law, by nonimmigrant visa holders attending or 25 working at the institution. The bill defines institution 26 of higher education as an institution of higher learning 27 governed by the state board of regents or an accredited private 28 institution for purposes of tuition grants under Code chapter 29 256, subchapter VII, part 4, subpart B. 30 The policy shall prohibit a student, faculty member, and 31 staff member, if the individual holds a nonimmigrant visa, from 32 publicly espousing terrorist activity related to an ongoing 33 conflict or, at any time or place, persuading others to endorse 34 or espouse terrorist activity related to an ongoing conflict 35 -3- LSB 1750HV (1) 91 je/jh 3/ 5
H.F. 576 or to support a terrorist organization unless it is the policy 1 or practice of the United States to support such activity or 2 organization. 3 Upon suspecting or receiving a credible allegation of a 4 violation by an individual, the policy shall provide for 5 an investigation of the individual by the institution and, 6 if warranted by the factual results of the investigation, 7 enforcement of the policy against the individual. 8 Upon a first finding of guilt of or responsibility for a 9 violation by a preponderance of the evidence, the policy shall 10 provide for the suspension of a student or termination of a 11 faculty or staff members employment for at least one year. 12 Upon a second such finding, the policy shall provide for the 13 expulsion of a student or termination of a faculty or staff 14 members employment permanently. 15 Immediately upon suspending or expelling a student or 16 terminating a faculty or staff members employment in this 17 manner, the policy shall require the institution to update 18 the individuals record in the federal department of homeland 19 securitys student exchange visitor information system or a 20 successor system to show that the individual is no longer 21 enrolled as a full-time student of the institution or employed 22 by the institution. 23 The policy must prohibit a student, faculty member, or staff 24 member from transferring to, enrolling at, or becoming employed 25 by the institution if the individual has been suspended, 26 expelled, or terminated from employment by another institution 27 of higher education as provided under the bill. 28 The bill shall be enforced by the attorney general, who may 29 investigate suspected violations by an institution of higher 30 education. The attorney general may compel production of 31 documents and other evidence from an institution suspected of a 32 violation. The attorney general may bring an action against an 33 institution for a writ of mandamus to compel the institution 34 to comply. 35 -4- LSB 1750HV (1) 91 je/jh 4/ 5
H.F. 576 Upon a determination by the court that an institution that 1 is not a regents institution has committed a violation, the 2 institution shall be ineligible to receive funds from the state 3 for tuition grants under Code chapter 256, subchapter VII, part 4 4, subpart B, for the academic year beginning after the date 5 of the finding. 6 The bill takes effect December 31, 2025. 7 -5- LSB 1750HV (1) 91 je/jh 5/ 5