All Roll Calls
Yes: 124 • No: 117
IowaHF 43791st General Assembly (2025–2026)HouseWALLET
A bill for an act establishing a center for intellectual freedom at the university of Iowa. (Formerly HSB 52.) Effective date: 07/01/2025.
Sponsored By: COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
More tenure-track civics faculty
Starting July 1, 2025, the University of Iowa employs tenure-eligible faculty to teach in the center. The university grows these positions to five over time, based on market research and student demand. Center faculty may hold joint appointments. Faculty outside the center cannot change center faculty appointments.
New civics center and courses
The law creates a Center for Intellectual Freedom at the University of Iowa on July 1, 2025. It teaches and researches the ideas and texts behind the American constitutional order, free speech, and civil discourse. The center works with Iowa State and UNI so students at any regents school can take its courses in person or online. It can help build certificates, minors, majors, graduate programs, and degrees. It must offer at least one three-credit course in American history and civil government, and, where used, that course meets any campus American heritage requirement.
Director-led hiring and council oversight
Beginning July 1, 2025, the center adopts bylaws that pledge free, open inquiry, intellectual diversity, and civil discourse. The Board of Regents may name the center under its donor-naming policies. By December 31, 2025, the Board appoints an advisory council with at least nine members; only one may be a university employee; terms are staggered two and four years. The council runs a nationwide search and sends finalists for director; the Board appoints a director who is eligible for tenure and reports directly to the Board. The director alone hires and dismisses center staff, invites guest speakers, and conducts market studies to set courses and faculty needs. Starting in 2026, the director files a yearly report by December 31 to the Governor, the legislature, and the Board.
Funding rules for the center
Starting July 1, 2025, the center can receive private gifts through the University of Iowa Center for Advancement. Any public or private money for the center is used only for its direct operations. If the center needs more money, regents institutions share the extra cost proportionally, with Board of Regents approval.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 4/15/2025
Passed Senate
Yes: 32 • No: 15
House vote • 3/18/2025
Passed House
Yes: 60 • No: 37
legislature vote • 3/18/2025
Amendment H-1109 to amendment H-1075
Yes: 32 • No: 65
Actions Timeline
Fiscal note.
6/11/2025legislatureSigned by Governor.
6/11/2025GovernorReported correctly enrolled, signed by Speaker and President, and sent to Governor.
5/19/2025SenateMessage from Senate.
4/16/2025SenateImmediate message.
4/15/2025legislaturePassed Senate, yeas 32, nays 15.
4/15/2025SenateSubstituted for SF 519.
4/15/2025legislaturePlaced on calendar under unfinished business.
4/3/2025legislatureFiscal note.
3/19/2025legislatureRead first time, attached to SF 519.
3/19/2025legislatureMessage from House.
3/19/2025HouseImmediate message.
3/18/2025legislaturePassed House, yeas 60, nays 37.
3/18/2025HouseAmendment H-1075 adopted.
3/18/2025legislatureMotion to suspend rules prevailed.
3/18/2025legislatureMotion to suspend rules for immediate consideration of amendment H-1075.
3/18/2025legislaturePoint of order raised on amendment H-1075, ruled not germane.
3/18/2025legislatureAmendment H-1109 to amendment H-1075, yeas 32, nays 65, lost.
3/18/2025legislatureMotion to suspend rules failed.
3/18/2025legislatureMotion to suspend rules for immediate consideration of amendment H-1098 to amendment H-1075, yeas 32, nays 65.
3/18/2025legislaturePoint of order raised on amendment H-1098 to amendment H-1075, ruled not germane.
3/18/2025legislatureAmendments H-1098 and H-1109 filed.
3/17/2025legislatureAmendment H-1075 filed.
3/13/2025legislatureFiscal note.
3/4/2025legislatureIntroduced, placed on calendar.
2/17/2025legislature
Bill Text
As Introduced
Enrolled
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