All Roll Calls
Yes: 126 • No: 104
IowaSF 36991st General Assembly (2025–2026)SenateWALLET
A bill for an act requiring students to pass the United States citizenship and immigration services naturalization civics test as a condition of high school graduation and high school equivalency diplomas. (Formerly SSB 1030.) Effective date: 07/01/2025.
Sponsored By: COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Iowa students face new diploma test
Beginning with the 2026–27 school year, starting July 1, 2026, Iowa students in grades 9–12 must pass a civics test to graduate. This covers public, accredited nonpublic, charter, and innovation zone schools. The test uses U.S. citizenship civics questions and requires at least 60% correct answers. Schools can give it on paper or electronically. Students get unlimited retakes, pay no test fee, and do not retest after passing. The law also ties high school equivalency diplomas to passing the civics test and showing skills in core subjects. Those subjects are reading, language arts, literacy, mathematics, science, and social studies.
Schools can adapt students’ civics tests
Beginning July 1, 2026, schools may adapt the graduation civics test for students with individualized education programs or Section 504 plans. Schools may also adapt the test for English learners. They may create and give an alternate test to students with significant intellectual disabilities.
Iowa schools get statewide civics tests
Beginning July 1, 2025, Iowa’s Education Department must supply covered schools with a multiple-choice civics test. It must include every question from the latest U.S. citizenship civics test. After each presidential general election, the department must update and distribute it by the following January 31. Schools must report results each year, and the State Board of Education must adopt rules to carry out the law. The department must study graduation rates and civics-test passage, then report to lawmakers by June 30, 2029. That study requirement ends July 1, 2029; the testing requirement continues.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
legislature vote • 4/17/2025
Amendment H-1241
Yes: 28 • No: 64
House vote • 4/17/2025
Passed House
Yes: 60 • No: 33
Senate vote • 4/14/2025
Passed Senate
Yes: 38 • No: 7
Actions Timeline
Signed by Governor.
5/27/2025SenateReported correctly enrolled, signed by President and Speaker, and sent to Governor.
5/19/2025SenateExplanation of vote.
4/24/2025HouseMessage from House.
4/21/2025SenateImmediate message.
4/17/2025HousePassed House, yeas 60, nays 33.
4/17/2025HouseAmendment H-1241, yeas 28, nays 64, lost.
4/17/2025HouseAmendment H-1228, yeas 30, nays 62, lost, as amended.
4/17/2025HouseAmendment H-1254 to amendment H-1228 filed, adopted.
4/17/2025HouseMotion to suspend rules failed.
4/17/2025HouseMotion to suspend rules for immediate consideration of amendment H-1239, yeas 30, nays 61.
4/17/2025HousePoint of order raised on amendment H-1239, ruled not germane.
4/17/2025HouseAmendment H-1231 withdrawn.
4/17/2025HouseSubstituted for HF 165.
4/17/2025HouseAmendments H-1239 and H-1241 filed.
4/16/2025HouseAmendments H-1228 and H-1231 filed.
4/15/2025HouseRead first time, passed on file.
4/15/2025HouseMessage from Senate.
4/15/2025HouseImmediate message.
4/14/2025SenatePassed Senate, yeas 38, nays 7.
4/14/2025SenateAmendment S-3096 filed, adopted.
4/14/2025SenateAmendment S-3099 filed, lost.
4/14/2025SenatePlaced on calendar under unfinished business.
4/3/2025SenateCommittee report, approving bill.
2/19/2025SenateIntroduced, placed on calendar.
2/19/2025Senate
Bill Text
As Introduced
Enrolled
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