Iowa 2025-2026 Regular Session

Iowa House Bill HF854

Introduced
3/7/25  

Caption

A bill for an act prohibiting private institutions of higher education that participate in the Iowa tuition grant program from establishing diversity, equity, and inclusion offices.(Formerly HSB 60.)

Impact

The implications of HF854 are significant for the regulatory environment of higher education institutions in Iowa. By establishing restrictions on DEI offices, the bill aims to reshape how educational policies are approached at private institutions. Advocates of the bill argue that it will eliminate what they perceive as an overreach of administrative bureaucracy focused on social issues, while critics contend that it undermines essential frameworks for promoting inclusivity and addressing systemic inequities within the educational landscape. Potential violations can be reported to the state's attorney general, which adds an enforcement mechanism to the bill.

Summary

House File 854 seeks to prohibit private institutions of higher education in Iowa from establishing any diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices. The bill defines DEI offices and stipulates that such institutions are not allowed to support or sustain these offices, except as required by federal or state law or accreditation standards. Notably, the bill outlines specific activities that remain unaffected, such as academic course instruction, student organizations, and guest speaker arrangements. This focus on limiting DEI operations reflects a growing national discourse around educational governance and inclusion policies.

Contention

The proposed legislation raises notable points of contention among various stakeholders. Proponents argue that the bill is necessary to maintain educational focus on academic outcomes rather than social agendas associated with DEI initiatives. Conversely, opponents believe that it represents a troubling trend to suppress necessary dialogue around diversity and could hinder the ability of institutions to serve a broader demographic effectively. The enforcement mechanism, which could penalize institutions by revoking their eligibility for tuition grant programs if they fail to comply with the bill's mandates, adds another layer of complexity to this debate.

Companion Bills

IA HSB60

Related A bill for an act prohibiting private institutions of higher education that participate in the Iowa tuition grant program from establishing diversity, equity, and inclusion offices.

Previously Filed As

IA HF616

A bill for an act prohibiting institutions of higher learning governed by the state board of regents from expending moneys to fund diversity, equity, and inclusion offices or to hire individuals to serve as diversity, equity, and inclusion officers, creating a private cause of action, and including effective date provisions.(Formerly HSB 218.)

IA HF2558

A bill for an act relating to higher education, including by modifying the responsibilities of private institutions of higher education, community colleges, the state board of regents, and institutions of higher education governed by the state board of regents, modifying provisions related to diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, tuition, and administrator hiring at state universities, membership of the state board of regents, and student-employer work and tuition programs at state universities and community colleges, and including applicability provisions. (Formerly HF 2327.)

IA HSB218

A bill for an act prohibiting institutions of higher learning governed by the state board of regents from expending moneys to fund diversity, equity, and inclusion offices or to hire individuals to serve as diversity, equity, and inclusion officers, creating a private cause of action, and including effective date provisions.(See HF 616.)

IA HF2704

A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations to the education system, including the funding and operation of the department for the blind, department of education, and state board of regents; modifying provisions related to compulsory education, open enrollment, the state board of regents presidential search committee, the Iowa tuition grants program, and the Iowa dyslexia board; establishing restrictions related to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts of institutions of higher education governed by the state board of regents; providing penalties; and including effective date and applicability provisions.

IA SF2435

A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations to the education system, including the funding and operation of the department for the blind, department of education, and state board of regents; modifying provisions related to compulsory education, open enrollment, the state board of regents presidential search committee, the Iowa tuition grants program, and the Iowa dyslexia board; establishing restrictions related to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts of institutions of higher education governed by the state board of regents; providing penalties; and including effective date and applicability provisions. (Formerly SSB 3201.) Effective date: 05/09/2024, 07/01/2024, 07/01/2025. Applicability date: 07/01/2024.

IA HF421

A bill for an act relating to the Iowa tuition grants program administered by the college student aid commission and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions. (Formerly HF 186.) Effective date: Enactment, 05/11/2023, 07/01/2023. Applicability date: 12/01/2022.

IA HF186

A bill for an act relating to the Iowa tuition grants program administered by the college student aid commission and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.(See HF 421.)

IA HF2347

A bill for an act relating to education, including by requiring community colleges and certain private institutions of higher education to publish information related to the average income and student debt of graduates, requiring school districts to provide students enrolled in grades eleven and twelve with information related to the average income and student debt of graduates of postsecondary institutions in the state, and modifying provisions related to supplementary weighting.(See HF 2615.)

IA HF2327

A bill for an act relating to higher education, including diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, tuition, and administrator hiring at state universities, membership of the state board of regents, and student-employer work and tuition programs at state universities and community colleges.(See HF 2558.)

IA SF376

A bill for an act relating to the Iowa tuition grants program administered by the college student aid commission and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.

Similar Bills

IA HSB60

A bill for an act prohibiting private institutions of higher education that participate in the Iowa tuition grant program from establishing diversity, equity, and inclusion offices.

CA AB70

Private postsecondary education: California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009.

CA AB909

Financial abuse of an elder or dependent adult: fraudulent transactions: liability.

IA HF576

A bill for an act providing penalties for certain nonimmigrant visa holders attending or employed by certain institutions of higher education who express support for certain terrorist activities or organizations and including effective date provisions.(Formerly HF 115.)

IA HF115

A bill for an act providing penalties for certain nonimmigrant visa holders attending or employed by certain institutions of higher education who express support for certain terrorist activities or organizations and including effective date provisions.(See HF 576.)

CA AB3229

California Right to Financial Privacy Act.

CA AB386

California Right to Financial Privacy Act.

CA SB493

Education: sex equity.