Iowa 2025-2026 Regular Session

Iowa House Bill HF80

Introduced
1/16/25  

Caption

A bill for an act prohibiting school districts and charter schools from taking disciplinary action against employees, contractors, or students for the use of legal names, the use of student names as listed in school registration forms or records, or for the failure to use personal pronouns in official communications, and providing civil penalties.

Impact

If enacted, HF80 will significantly affect the policies governing disciplinary actions in educational institutions across the state. This legislation mandates that school boards cannot discipline individuals for adhering to the use of their legal names or for failing to use specific personal pronouns. This aligns with broader movements seeking to affirm individual identity and promote respectful representation in educational contexts. The bill is expected to foster an inclusive environment while preventing potential conflicts that arise from the enforcement of policies concerning personal identification.

Summary

House File 80 (HF80) is a legislative proposal aimed at prohibiting disciplinary actions taken by school districts and charter schools against employees, contractors, or students for using legal names or names as listed in school registration forms. The bill also addresses concerns regarding the mandatory use of personal pronouns in official communications. By outlining these stipulations, HF80 intends to protect the rights of individuals in educational settings, ensuring they are not penalized for their choices regarding personal identification and communication.

Contention

There are notable points of contention surrounding HF80. Proponents argue that the bill is necessary to uphold the dignity and rights of all individuals within the educational system, fostering an atmosphere where students and staff can operate without fear of retribution for their self-identified names and pronouns. However, opponents of the bill express concerns regarding its implications for traditional practices in education and the potential confusion it may introduce in formal settings. Critics worry that the bill could undermine the authority of schools to maintain educational standards and order.

Provisions

The bill allows affected individuals—specifically employees who may face termination due to violations of these provisions—to seek legal recourse through civil action. If successful, they could be entitled to reinstatement, back pay, civil damages up to three times their annual wages, as well as attorney fees. This introduces a framework for accountability and fosters a legal pathway for individuals to address grievances related to enforcement failures.

Companion Bills

IA SF8

Similar To A bill for an act prohibiting school districts and charter schools from taking disciplinary action against employees, contractors, or students for the use of legal names, the use of student names as listed in school registration forms or records, or for the failure to use personal pronouns in official communications, and providing civil penalties.

Previously Filed As

IA HF2396

A bill for an act prohibiting school districts and charter schools from taking disciplinary action against employees, contractors, or students for the use of legal names, the use of student names as listed in school registration forms or records, or for the failure to use personal pronouns in official communications, and providing civil penalties.(Formerly HF 2139.)

IA HF620

A bill for an act prohibiting school districts and charter schools from taking disciplinary action against employees, contractors, or students for the use of legal names or for the failure to use personal pronouns in official communications, and providing civil penalties.(Formerly HF 367.)

IA HF367

A bill for an act prohibiting school districts and charter schools from taking disciplinary action against employees, contractors, or students for the use of legal names or for the failure to use personal pronouns in official communications.(See HF 620.)

IA HF2139

A bill for an act prohibiting school districts and charter schools from taking disciplinary action against employees, contractors, or students for the use of legal names or for the failure to use personal pronouns in official communications, and providing civil penalties.(See HF 2396.)

IA HF362

A bill for an act relating to public education, including participation in surveys, analyses, activities, or evaluations by students, employees, and contractors of school districts or charter schools and prohibiting the use of certain resources or materials related to social and emotional learning.

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 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 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 SF85

A bill for an act relating to public education, including participation in surveys, analyses, activities, or evaluations by students, employees, and contractors of school districts or charter schools and prohibiting the use of certain resources or materials related to social and emotional learning.

Similar Bills

IA SF8

A bill for an act prohibiting school districts and charter schools from taking disciplinary action against employees, contractors, or students for the use of legal names, the use of student names as listed in school registration forms or records, or for the failure to use personal pronouns in official communications, and providing civil penalties.

IA HF2396

A bill for an act prohibiting school districts and charter schools from taking disciplinary action against employees, contractors, or students for the use of legal names, the use of student names as listed in school registration forms or records, or for the failure to use personal pronouns in official communications, and providing civil penalties.(Formerly HF 2139.)

IA HF367

A bill for an act prohibiting school districts and charter schools from taking disciplinary action against employees, contractors, or students for the use of legal names or for the failure to use personal pronouns in official communications.(See HF 620.)

IA HF620

A bill for an act prohibiting school districts and charter schools from taking disciplinary action against employees, contractors, or students for the use of legal names or for the failure to use personal pronouns in official communications, and providing civil penalties.(Formerly HF 367.)

IA HF2139

A bill for an act prohibiting school districts and charter schools from taking disciplinary action against employees, contractors, or students for the use of legal names or for the failure to use personal pronouns in official communications, and providing civil penalties.(See HF 2396.)

CA SB610

Contractors: licensing and regulation.

FL H1163

Regulation of Water Resources

CA AB2329

Pupil health: eye examinations: schoolsites.