# Iowa HF 295: A bill for an act relating to accreditation of postsecondary educational institutions, prohibiting adverse action by accrediting agencies against certain postsecondary educational institutions for compliance with state law, providing remedies, and including effective date provisions. (Formerly HSB 57.) Effective date: 05/06/2025. Iowa HF 295, A bill for an act relating to accreditation of postsecondary educational institutions, prohibiting adverse action by accrediting agencies against certain postsecondary educational institutions for compliance with state law, providing remedies, and including effective date provisions. (Formerly HSB 57.) Effective date: 05/06/2025., is a 91st General Assembly (2025–2026) House bill sponsored by COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION; status signed, last action 2025-05-06 (Signed by Governor.) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IA-HF295-2025-2026 - As of: 2026-10-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Iowa HF 295 - State: Iowa - Session: 91st General Assembly (2025–2026) - Title: A bill for an act relating to accreditation of postsecondary educational institutions, prohibiting adverse action by accrediting agencies against certain postsecondary educational institutions for compliance with state law, providing remedies, and including effective date provisions. (Formerly HSB 57.) Effective date: 05/06/2025. - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-02-10 - Last action: 2025-05-06, Signed by Governor. - Sponsor: COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: education - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (97 yes, 47 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 4 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Broader college eligibility for tuition grants: benefit, medium. Beginning May 6, 2025, Iowa tuition grant rules accept any federally recognized college accreditor, not just the Higher Learning Commission. The nonprofit eligibility path still requires federal tax-exempt status, matching student aid, and annual reports before receiving grant funds. The aid match… - Iowa broadens community college accreditor choices: benefit, low. Beginning May 6, 2025, Iowa coordinates community college program accreditation with a federally recognized accreditor chosen by the State Board of Education. This replaces the required use of the Higher Learning Commission’s process. The state process still must include Iowa’s community college st… - More colleges qualify for emergency training: benefit, low. Beginning May 6, 2025, Iowa colleges approved by any federally recognized college accreditor can qualify as emergency medical care training programs. The law also recognizes training through authorized Iowa hospitals, medical care ambulance services, and nontransport services. Establishing these pr… - Public colleges gain protection from accreditors: benefit, low. Beginning May 6, 2025, nongovernmental accreditors cannot penalize Iowa regents-governed institutions or community colleges for following Iowa law or refusing to violate it. The ban applies when that conduct is part or all of the reason for the penalty. Affected institutions can sue for a court ord… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-04-17 | Senate | Passed Senate | pass | 32 | 15 | | | 2025-03-18 | House | Passed House | pass | 65 | 32 | | ## Actions (17) - 2025-05-06: Signed by Governor. (House) - 2025-05-06: Reported correctly enrolled, signed by Speaker and President, and sent to Governor. (House) - 2025-04-17: Message from Senate. (House) - 2025-04-17: Immediate message. (Senate) - 2025-04-17: Passed Senate, yeas 32, nays 15. (Senate) - 2025-04-10: Placed on calendar under unfinished business. (Senate) - 2025-04-07: Placed on calendar. (legislature) - 2025-04-07: Committee report, recommending passage. (Senate) - 2025-04-01: Subcommittee recommends passage. (legislature) - 2025-03-31: Subcommittee Meeting: 04/01/2025 8:30AM Room 315. (legislature) - 2025-03-26: Subcommittee: Gruenhagen, Taylor, and Winckler. (Senate) - 2025-03-19: Read first time, referred to Education. (Senate) - 2025-03-19: Message from House. (Senate) - 2025-03-18: Immediate message. (House) - 2025-03-18: Explanation of vote. (House) - 2025-03-18: Passed House, yeas 65, nays 32. (House) - 2025-02-10: Introduced, placed on calendar. (House) ## Bill text - As Introduced: [PDF](https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGI/91/HF295.pdf) - Enrolled: [PDF](https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGE/91/HF295.pdf) ## Related bills - HF 2801: A bill for an act modifying the major economic growth attraction program, and including effective date provisions. (Formerly HSB 785.) Effective date: 10/02/20… (signed) - SF 2472: A bill for an act relating to state and local government taxes, fees, financial authority, and budgets, by modifying property assessment provisions, divisions… (signed) - HF 2601: A bill for an act relating to campaign finance, including participation in ballot issue campaigns by foreign nationals and investigations of election misconduc… (signed) - SF 2471: A bill for an act relating to fees for lifetime fur harvester licenses. (Formerly SF 2317, SSB 3121.) Effective date: 07/01/2026. (signed) - SF 2399: A bill for an act relating to bail and bond amounts and conditions. (Formerly SSB 3162.) Effective date: 07/01/2026. (signed) - SF 2299: A bill for an act relating to the district-to-community college sharing or concurrent enrollment program. (Formerly SF 2176.) Vetoed 6-2-26. (vetoed) ## Sources - [As Introduced (PDF)](https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGI/91/HF295.pdf) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGE/91/HF295.pdf) ## Related - [HF 2801: A bill for an act modifying the major economic growth attraction program, and i…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IA-HF2801-2025-2026) - [SF 2472: A bill for an act relating to state and local government taxes, fees, financial…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IA-SF2472-2025-2026) - [HF 2601: A bill for an act relating to campaign finance, including participation in ball…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IA-HF2601-2025-2026) - [SF 2471: A bill for an act relating to fees for lifetime fur harvester licenses. (Former…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IA-SF2471-2025-2026) - [SF 2399: A bill for an act relating to bail and bond amounts and conditions. (Formerly S…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IA-SF2399-2025-2026) - [SF 2299: A bill for an act relating to the district-to-community college sharing or conc…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IA-SF2299-2025-2026) - [Iowa bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/iowa/bills) - [Iowa state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/iowa) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IA-HF295-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-19).