Iowa 2025-2026 Regular Session

Iowa House Bill HSB282

Introduced
3/4/25  

Caption

A bill for an act relating to cooperation by public and private schools with federal immigration and customs enforcement officers.

Impact

The proposed legislation has significant ramifications for existing educational policies and practices regarding immigration issues. By enforcing this cooperation, the bill could lead to increased collaboration between schools and federal authorities, potentially affecting students and families within the educational framework. If schools fail to comply, various ramifications are specified including the risk of deaccreditation and loss of state recognition. This could lead to a considerable impact on school districts, particularly those with higher populations of immigrant students who may feel threatened by increased immigration oversight.

Summary

House Study Bill 282 seeks to establish a legal framework that mandates public and private schools, including charter and innovation zone schools, to fully cooperate with federal immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) officers. The bill stipulates that these educational institutions cannot adopt any policies that prohibit or discourage their employees from assisting with lawful requests from ICE. This move is aimed at ensuring compliance with federal immigration laws within the educational system, a controversial aspect that aligns schools closer with federal enforcement agencies.

Conclusion

In summary, House Study Bill 282 reflects the ongoing national dialogue surrounding immigration and education, spotlighting the tension between federal mandates and local educational autonomy. Its advancement could set a precedent for how schools interface with local communities and the federal government, thereby reshaping the educational landscape in Iowa.

Contention

Critics of HSB282 argue that the bill could create a hostile environment in schools for undocumented students and their families, exacerbating fears surrounding deportation and restricting access to education. There are concerns that such measures might undermine trust between students and educational institutions, deterring families from seeking necessary support. The bill also raises ethical questions regarding the role of educational institutions in enforcing federal laws concerning immigration, positioning schools not just as places of learning but also as extensions of federal enforcement agencies.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

IA SSB1145

A bill for an act relating to children and students, including establishing a parent's or guardian's right to make decisions affecting the parent's or guardian's child, modifying provisions related to student health screenings and the curriculum in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools, other duties of school districts, competent private instruction, and special education, making appropriations, and providing civil penalties.(See SF 496.)

IA HSB222

A bill for an act relating to children and students, including establishing a parent's or guardian's right to make decisions affecting the parent's or guardian's child, modifying provisions related to student health screenings and the curriculum in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools, other duties of school districts, competent private instruction, and special education, making appropriations, and providing civil penalties.

IA HF2547

A bill for an act relating to education, including by requiring school engagement meetings and attendance cooperation proceedings when children are absent from school, requiring school districts to restrict student use of cellular phones and smartphones, modifying provisions related to open enrollment of truant students, and modifying penalties. (Formerly HF 2254.)

IA HSB730

A bill for an act providing for cardiac emergency response plans in schools and a cardiac emergency response plan grant program.

IA HSB206

A bill for an act relating to education, including authorizing the ombudsman to investigate complaints received by individuals who hold a license, certificate, authorization, or statement of recognition issued by the board of educational examiners, modifying the responsibilities of school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools, and authorizing teachers employed by school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, or charter schools to remove disruptive students from the classroom.(See HF 604.)

IA HF2496

A bill for an act modifying provisions related to the responsibilities of nonpublic schools.

IA HF5

A bill for an act relating to education, including requiring the boards of directors of school districts and the governing boards of charter schools to publish certain specified information, modifying provisions related to required social studies instruction, and providing civil penalties.

IA HF355

A bill for an act relating to certain specified employees of school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools, including renewal requirements associated with licenses issued by the board of educational examiners to practitioners with master's or doctoral degrees, fees associated with the review of certain specified records, and background checks for employees of school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools.(Formerly HF 224; See HF 672.)

IA HF224

A bill for an act relating to certain specified employees of school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools, including renewal requirements associated with licenses issued by the board of educational examiners to practitioners with master's or doctoral degrees, fees associated with the review of certain specified records, and background checks for employees of school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools.(See HF 355, HF 672.)

IA SF496

A bill for an act relating to children and students, including establishing a parent's or guardian's right to make decisions affecting the parent's or guardian's child, authorizing the parent or guardian of a student enrolled in a school district to enroll the student in another attendance center within the same school district in certain specified circumstances, prohibiting instruction related to gender identity and sexual orientation in school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools in kindergarten through grade six, and modifying provisions related to student health screenings, school district library programs, the educational program provided to students enrolled in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools, other duties of school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, the department of education, the board of educational examiners, and the governing boards of charter schools and innovation zone schools, competent private instruction, and special education, and including effective date provisions. (Formerly SSB 1145.) Effective date: 05/26/2023, 07/01/2023.

Similar Bills

MS HB1439

School Accountability Dashboard Act; establish to provide parents with critical student performance data.

MS HB864

State school and school district accountability system; eliminate certain criteria for measuring performance under.

MS HB1143

School districts under states of emergency; clarify role of interim superintendent appointed by the SBE when district returns to local control.

MO SB304

Modifies provisions relating to charter schools

IA HF2496

A bill for an act modifying provisions related to the responsibilities of nonpublic schools.

IA HF430

A bill for an act relating to education, including requirements related to mandatory reporters, a process for investigating complaints against school employees, and the responsibilities of the department of education, school districts, charter schools, accredited nonpublic schools, and the board of educational examiners, modifying the membership of the board of educational examiners, and including applicability provisions. (Formerly HF 10.) Effective date: 07/01/2023. Applicability date: 07/01/2023.

MS SB2176

Interim superintendents; modify role when state of emergency is lifted.

IA HF2487

A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to mandatory reporting to the board of educational examiners of certain specified school employees, complaints against school employees and the investigation of complaints against school employees, and the responsibilities of the department of education and the board of educational examiners. (Formerly HSB 568.) Effective date: 07/01/2024.