Iowa House Bill HF810

Iowa 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/6/25
• Refer: 3/6/25

Caption

A bill for an act relating to granting supplemental aid or a modified supplemental amount for school districts with high open enrollments, and including effective date and applicability provisions.

Impact

The impact of HF810 focuses primarily on the financial frameworks that govern school district budgets. By permitting higher supplemental aid under conditions of increased open enrollment, the bill seeks to stabilize funding for districts that may struggle due to a high number of students enrolling from outside their boundaries. Importantly, if passed, this legislation could lead to alterations in property tax rates by setting limits on the tax rates that school districts can impose when granted supplemental amounts, thereby affecting local taxpayers.

Summary

House File 810 is a legislative proposal aimed at modifying the provisions related to providing supplemental aid or a modified supplemental amount to school districts in Iowa, particularly those experiencing high levels of open enrollment. The bill proposes changes to Section 257.31 of the Iowa Code, allowing districts with significant open enrollment numbers to apply for additional financial support under specific conditions. This adjustment intends to ensure that school districts are not financially penalized for experiencing an influx of students, thereby maintaining resource availability for educational services.

Contention

One notable point of contention within the bill revolves around the stipulations regarding the calculation of aid. Critics may voice concerns about the implications of such modifications, particularly regarding how the formula for determining the amount of supplemental aid might affect different school districts disproportionately. Furthermore, the requirement for public hearings before districts can apply for funding under new provisions may lead to debates about accessibility and transparency in financial decision-making for education.