Iowa 2025-2026 Regular Session

Iowa Senate Bill SF172

Introduced
1/30/25  
Refer
1/30/25  

Caption

A bill for an act relating to child sexual abuse and child sexual assault awareness and prevention.

Impact

The bill's passage aims to establish a standardized approach to teach children about the hazards of child sexual abuse in a consistent manner across different educational institutions. This educational requirement intends to empower students with knowledge on how to respond to potential abuse and emphasizes the importance of open communication about these critical issues. School districts will be responsible for implementing these educational programs in alignment with the state's provided guidelines, thus enhancing their current curricula related to personal safety.

Summary

Senate File 172 focuses on enhancing child sexual abuse and child sexual assault awareness and prevention education within Iowa's school systems. The bill mandates that the Department of Education develop age-appropriate, research-based materials and guidelines for school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools. These materials will educate students from kindergarten through sixth grade about the recognition and reporting of inappropriate behavior, safe touch, and dangers associated with sexual exploitation, including that related to internet safety.

Contention

Though the bill is primarily seen as a protective measure for children, some discussions reflect potential concerns regarding its implementation, particularly in the context of funding and state mandates for local school districts. As the legislation specifies that the costs associated with adopting these new educational requirements will be covered by state funds, there may be apprehensions about the adequacy and reliability of this financial provision. Furthermore, debates around how effective these guidelines will be in genuinely fostering a safer environment for children versus being merely a compliance checklist could arise as the bill moves through legislative processes.

Companion Bills

IA HF215

Similar To A bill for an act relating to child sexual abuse and child sexual assault awareness and prevention.

Previously Filed As

IA HF2171

A bill for an act relating to child sexual abuse and child sexual assault awareness and prevention.

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 HF348

A bill for an act prohibiting instruction related to gender identity and sexual orientation in school districts and charter schools in kindergarten through grade six. (Formerly HF 8.)

IA HF8

A bill for an act prohibiting instruction related to gender identity and sexual orientation in school districts and charter schools in kindergarten through grade three.(See HF 348.)

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.

IA HF2350

A bill for an act relating to victims of sexual assault including sexual abuse evidence, notification of rights, HIV-related testing of a convicted or alleged assailant, and testing, reporting, and counseling of a victim, and making penalties applicable.

IA SF2223

A bill for an act relating to children and students, including by modifying provisions related to a parent's or guardian's rights to make decisions affecting the parent's or guardian's child, the educational program and human growth and development curriculum provided to students enrolled in school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools, student health screenings, school district library programs, special education, and other duties of school districts and the governing boards of charter schools and innovation zone schools.

IA SF2341

A bill for an act relating to victims of sexual assault including sexual abuse evidence, notification of rights, HIV-related testing of a convicted or alleged assailant, and testing, reporting, and counseling of a victim, and making penalties applicable.(Formerly SF 2067.)

IA SF229

A bill for an act relating to continuous sexual abuse of a child, and making penalties applicable.(Formerly SSB 1048.)

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