Iowa 2025-2026 Regular Session

Iowa House Bill HF867

Introduced
3/7/25  

Caption

A bill for an act requiring that a portion of funds for the Iowa tuition grant be awarded to students pursuing majors leading to high-wage and high-demand jobs and including effective date provisions.(Formerly HSB 62.)

Impact

The implications of HF867 are significant for Iowa's higher education funding landscape. By prioritizing majors in high-demand fields, the bill seeks to enhance graduates' employability and address skills gaps in the state's labor market. A state-level collaboration to regularly update the job list further emphasizes a proactive approach to education and workforce planning. Although this could be beneficial in terms of economic growth, it may also raise concerns about limiting funding for other educational programs that do not fall under the 'high-wage' criteria.

Summary

House File 867 mandates that a minimum of 50% of the Iowa tuition grant funds be allocated to students pursuing majors that lead to high-wage and high-demand jobs. This legislative measure aims to align funding with workforce needs, ensuring that students are prepared for current job market demands. The bill also stipulates that the workforce development board, in collaboration with the Iowa association of independent colleges and universities, must develop a list of such high-wage jobs and corresponding academic programs, with a focus on criteria indicating at least a bachelor's degree and significant salary expectations.

Contention

One of the potential areas of contention surrounding HF867 could stem from the definition of 'high-wage' and 'high-demand.' Stakeholders in fields not classified under these categories may express concern over diminished funding opportunities. Additionally, critics might argue that while the bill promotes targeted educational outcomes, it could inadvertently devalue other important fields of study crucial for a well-rounded economy. Balancing the allocation of educational resources with the diverse needs of all sectors will likely be a point of discussion among lawmakers and educational institutions.

Companion Bills

IA HSB62

Related A bill for an act requiring that a portion of funds for the Iowa tuition grant be awarded to students pursuing majors leading to high-wage and high-demand jobs and including effective date provisions.(See HF 867.)

Previously Filed As

IA HF447

A bill for an act relating to workforce development, including establishing the Iowa workforce grant and incentive program and modifying the responsibilities of the Iowa workforce development board and the state board of regents.(Formerly HF 6.)

IA SF2411

A bill for an act relating to work-based learning, including by repealing provisions related to regional industry sector partnerships and the statewide work-based learning intermediary network, establishing the workforce opportunity fund within the department of workforce development, modifying provisions related to career and technical education, student teacher requirements for students with substitute teaching or para-educator experience, the unemployment compensation reserve fund, and the future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship program, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions. (Formerly SF 2260, SSB 3143.) Effective date: 05/16/2024, 07/01/2024.

IA SF481

A bill for an act concerning unemployment benefits and including effective date provisions.(Formerly SSB 1159.)

IA HF731

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, the department of education, and the state board of regents; requiring the state board of regents to conduct a study and prepare a report related to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and efforts; providing for responsibilities of the workforce development board; establishing the Iowa workforce grant and incentive program; requiring the department of education to convene a task force on at-risk students and dropout prevention programs; modifying provisions related to the future ready Iowa skilled workforce grant program, the all Iowa opportunity scholarship program, the education savings account program, the gap tuition assistance program, the Iowa educational services for the blind and visually impaired program, career and technical education programs, the fine arts beginning teacher mentoring program, the equipment replacement and program-sharing property tax levy, and the posting of education-related job openings; and including effective date, applicability, and retroactive applicability provisions.(Formerly HSB 254.)

IA SF560

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, the department of education, and the state board of regents; requiring the state board of regents to conduct a study and prepare a report related to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and efforts; providing for responsibilities of the workforce development board; establishing the Iowa workforce grant and incentive program; requiring the department of education to convene a task force to study issues related to programs for at-risk students and dropout prevention programs; modifying provisions related to the future ready Iowa skilled workforce grant program, the all Iowa opportunity scholarship program, the education savings account program, the gap tuition assistance program, the Iowa educational services for the blind and visually impaired program, career and technical education programs, the fine arts beginning teacher mentoring program, the equipment replacement and program-sharing property tax levy, and the posting of education-related job openings; and including effective date, applicability, and retroactive applicability provisions. (Formerly SSB 1212.) Effective date: 06/01/2023, 07/01/2023. Applicability date: 01/24/2023, 07/01/2023.

IA HF2516

A bill for an act relating to work-based learning, including by repealing provisions related to regional industry sector partnerships and the statewide work-based learning intermediary network, establishing the workforce opportunity fund within the department of workforce development, modifying provisions related to career and technical education, student teacher requirements for students with substitute teaching or para-educator experience, and the future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship program, and making appropriations.(Formerly HSB 686; See HF 2703.)

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 SF2260

A bill for an act relating to work-based learning, including by repealing provisions related to regional industry sector partnerships and the statewide work-based learning intermediary network, establishing the workforce opportunity fund within the department of workforce development, modifying provisions related to career and technical education, student teacher requirements for students with substitute teaching or para-educator experience, and the future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship program, and making appropriations.(Formerly SSB 3143; See SF 2411.)

IA HF6

A bill for an act relating to workforce development, including establishing the Iowa workforce grant and incentive program and modifying the responsibilities of the Iowa workforce development board.(See HF 447.)

IA HSB254

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, the department of education, and the state board of regents; requiring the state board of regents to conduct a study and prepare a report related to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and efforts; providing for responsibilities of the workforce development board; establishing the Iowa workforce grant and incentive program; requiring the department of education to convene a task force on at-risk students and dropout prevention programs; modifying provisions related to the future ready Iowa skilled workforce grant program, the all Iowa opportunity scholarship program, the education savings account program, the gap tuition assistance program, the Iowa educational services for the blind and visually impaired program, career and technical education programs, the fine arts beginning teacher mentoring program, the equipment replacement and program-sharing property tax levy, and the posting of education-related job openings; and including effective date, applicability, and retroactive applicability provisions.(See HF 731.)

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.