IowaSF 64791st General Assembly (2025–2026)SenateWALLET

A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations to the education system, including the funding and operation of the department for the blind, department of education, and state board of regents, and including contingent effective date provisions. (Formerly SSB 1231.) Effective date: 07/01/2025.

Sponsored By: COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

51 provisions identified: 47 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.

Early services funded for young children

For 2025–2026, the law provides $574,500 for Early Head Start pilot projects serving children from birth to age three. Projects support children's learning, social, emotional, and developmental needs and can include prenatal help for qualified families. Priority goes to organizations that previously qualified for and received state Early Head Start funding. Another $383,769 from birth-through-age-three funding supports University of Iowa child health specialty clinics. These clinics help infants and toddlers born prematurely, exposed to drugs, or medically fragile; families receive services, not cash.

College Classes Get High School Funding

Beginning July 1, 2025, Iowa provides $600,000 for college-level classes outside the regular school year, including summer. Students must be Iowa residents in grades 9–12, taking classes through a community college–school district contract. Classes must be at a community college or taught by an instructor employed by one. Another $1 million pays community colleges for concurrent enrollment of accredited nonpublic school students. Unused money from both appropriations remains available through June 30, 2027.

Nearby-state students get resident tuition support

For July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, Iowa provides $1.5 million for University of Northern Iowa tuition support. Undergraduates residing in states bordering Iowa can receive Iowa-resident classification for tuition and mandatory fees. The benefit is subject to available funding. The law does not state each student's savings.

Young children get expanded disability services

Beginning July 1, 2025, Iowa provides about $1.72 million to expand services for children from birth through age three. Children must qualify under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act. The funding responds to growing numbers of qualifying children. It does not set a cash payment or service amount for each child.

Funding supports University of Iowa operations

For fiscal year 2025–2026, the University of Iowa receives about $223.5 million for general operations, including financial aid. The law allows up to 5,058.55 full-time equivalent positions for those operations. The Oakdale campus receives about $2.1 million and authorization for up to 38.25 full-time equivalent positions. These appropriations support university services and staffing rather than a set payment to each student.

State Funding Supports Colleges And Students

For July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, Iowa provides about $243.36 million in general community college aid. Iowa State University gets about $178.45 million for operations, including financial aid, with up to 3,647.42 full-time-equivalent positions. The University of Northern Iowa gets about $101.89 million for operations, including financial aid, with up to 1,250.28 positions. Its real estate education program also gets $123,523 and up to 0.86 positions. These funds support colleges and programs, but do not set individual student awards.

State work-study funding and aid reserves cut

The law sets state general fund support for the college work-study program at $0 for July 2025 through June 2026. It does not end the program itself. On July 1, 2025, the law also repeals the scholarship and tuition grant reserve fund. Any money left in that reserve that is not committed moves to the state general fund. Those balances are no longer available for the reserve's scholarship and tuition grant purposes.

Funding supports specialized care for children

For fiscal year 2025–2026, specialized child health services receive $634,502 and authorization for 4.16 full-time equivalent positions. Supported services include childhood cancer diagnosis and treatment networks, rural hemophilia care, and follow-up care for high-risk infants. The appropriation does not set individual payments or new eligibility rules.

Chiropractic funds can support loan forgiveness

For July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, Iowa can use chiropractic loan revolving fund money for chiropractic loan forgiveness. The money must support the existing loan forgiveness program. The law does not specify new funding, individual forgiveness amounts, or new eligibility rules.

Dedicated funds support college tuition grants

Starting July 1, 2025, separate funds receive annual tuition grant funding, and unused money carries forward. Private-college grants receive about $53.76 million yearly, up from $52.71 million. For-profit college grants receive $112,914, up from $110,700; vocational-technical grants receive about $1.75 million yearly. Students must qualify for the relevant program and attend an eligible school; individual awards are not set here. Prior unused grant money transfers into these funds, while earnings from named student-aid funds support College Student Aid Commission administration.

Equipment grants help court reporter trainees

Starting July 1, 2025, a new court reporter equipment grant program receives $50,000 for fiscal year 2025–2026. Applicants must enroll in an Iowa court reporter training program and use awards for training equipment and software. The College Student Aid Commission gives priority to applicants doing court-related work. The law ends the old equipment incentive fund rules and transfers its unspent, uncommitted balance into the new grant fund.

Funding Supports Teachers And School Hiring

For 2025–2026, Iowa provides $948,715 for the Teach Iowa Scholar Program. The University of Northern Iowa gets $1.5 million to recruit students into programs leading to teacher licensure. Another $265,000 runs an online job site for the education department, districts, charter schools, regional education agencies, and accredited nonpublic schools. The funding does not set individual scholar awards or guarantee jobs.

Loan Repayment Help For Rural Veterinarians

Beginning July 1, 2025, Iowa provides $700,000 for rural veterinarian loan repayment. Eligible rural veterinarians can receive help with education debt through the existing program. This appropriation does not set individual repayment amounts or add eligibility rules.

Opportunity scholarships reach private college students

Beginning July 1, 2025, the All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship receives about $3.23 million for fiscal year 2025–2026. The law expands eligible schools for that year to include accredited private institutions defined by state law. This expansion requires funding above $500,000, a threshold this appropriation exceeds. Students must still qualify for the scholarship; individual awards are not set here.

Scholarships help Iowa National Guard members

For fiscal year 2025–2026, Iowa provides $6.6 million for National Guard service scholarships. Eligible Iowa National Guard members receive help through the existing scholarship program. This appropriation does not set individual awards or add eligibility rules.

Tuition help supports workforce students

For July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, Iowa funds three programs that help eligible students pay education costs. Future Ready Iowa last-dollar scholarships receive about $23.93 million. Skilled workforce shortage tuition grants receive $5 million, and gap tuition assistance receives $2 million. These appropriations do not set individual awards or change the programs' eligibility rules.

Workforce Grants Get State Funding

For 2025–2026, Iowa deposits $425,000 into the Future Ready Iowa skilled workforce grant fund. The Iowa workforce grant and incentive fund gets $6.5 million. The College Student Aid Commission gets $591,533 and up to 4.95 full-time-equivalent positions for administration, including last-dollar scholarships. These appropriations do not set individual grant amounts or change student eligibility.

Campus police budgets protected from cuts

From July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, the Board of Regents cannot reduce campus police budgets. Its governed institutions face the same ban. The law protects budgeted amounts but does not set a specific funding level.

Iowa Flood Center receives state funding

The law provides about $1.21 million for the Iowa Flood Center for July 2025 through June 2026. The University of Iowa College of Engineering uses the money for the center's work under state law. The appropriation does not create a direct household payment or change household eligibility.

Funding supports family medicine training

For fiscal year 2025–2026, the University of Iowa family practice residency program receives about $2.22 million. It allows up to 2.71 full-time equivalent positions; the medical school dean allocates money with advisory board approval. The primary health care initiative receives $624,374 and allows up to 6.22 full-time equivalent positions. Of that initiative's funding, $254,889 must support family practice faculty and staff.

Funding supports health testing and research

For fiscal year 2025–2026, the University of Iowa State Hygienic Laboratory receives about $4.82 million and allows 102.50 full-time equivalent positions. The statewide cancer registry receives $143,410 and allows 2.10 full-time equivalent positions. Substance abuse research and evaluation receive $53,427 and allow 0.99 full-time equivalent positions. The birth defects registry receives $36,839 and allows 0.38 full-time equivalent positions. These funds support laboratory, research, and registry operations rather than direct treatment payments.

School mental health and grief services funded

For 2025–2026, the law provides about $3.38 million to area education agencies for school-based children's mental health services. This includes mental health awareness training for educators. Of that funding, $200,000 supports a grief and loss pilot for children in rural school districts or accredited nonpublic schools. An existing statewide nonprofit health care organization already providing children's grief services runs the pilot. A pilot report is due September 30, 2026.

State matching money supports school meals

The law provides about $2.18 million in state matching money for federal school food programs for July 2025 through June 2026. The money must be distributed under federal rules. The provision also allows up to 26.42 full-time equivalent staff positions. It does not set new household eligibility rules or individual payment amounts.

University funded to study Iowa cancer

The University of Iowa receives $1 million for a cancer assessment and intervention plan for July 2025 through June 2026. The state health department directs the work. The plan examines possible causes of Iowa's high cancer rate and guides policy, prevention, screening, awareness, and evidence-based efforts. University spending must meet the terms, conditions, and required work in its agreement with the department.

Funding Supports Deaf And Blind Services

For 2025–2026, the Iowa School for the Deaf gets about $12.05 million and up to 121 full-time-equivalent positions. Iowa Educational Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired gets about $5.01 million and up to 56 positions. The Department for the Blind gets about $3.21 million and up to 88.98 positions. Another $200,000 develops family support mentoring guidelines addressing language and communication needs. That guideline funding does not promise families specific services or payments.

Funding supports science and technology learning

For fiscal year 2025–2026, Iowa provides $700,000 for its STEM BEST program. The Iowa Online Advanced Placement Academy's science, technology, engineering, and mathematics initiative receives $463,616. These appropriations support education programs, not set payments to students.

Funding Supports Students With Disabilities

For 2025–2026, Iowa provides $5 million and up to 60 full-time-equivalent positions for special education supervision, oversight, and compliance. The therapeutic classroom incentive fund gets about $2.35 million. Best Buddies Iowa gets $35,000 for district opportunities supporting friendships, integrated employment, and leadership for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The education department sets distribution criteria. Funded organizations must report participating students’ identifying data each year.

High-need schools get yearly funding

Starting July 1, 2026, Iowa provides $10 million each year for supplemental assistance to high-need schools. The Department of Education administers the funding under the existing high-need school program. Up to $100,000 yearly can support administration and one full-time equivalent position.

Intellectual freedom center receives state funding

For fiscal year 2025–2026, the Board of Regents receives $1 million for the Center for Intellectual Freedom. The funding depends on the center's establishment under House File 437. Unspent, uncommitted money remains available after the fiscal year ends.

Iowa pays regional higher education dues

For 2025–2026, the law provides $115,000 to pay Iowa's annual membership obligation to the Midwestern Higher Education Compact. Unused funds remain available through the end of the next fiscal year. This pays a state membership obligation, not a direct student benefit.

Northern Iowa Gets Civic Education Center

For 2025–2026, the University of Northern Iowa gets $1 million to establish and run a civic education center. The center promotes free speech, civic leadership, public service, and citizenship. Its work includes civic learning, respectful dialogue, and educational resources.

Schools Get Funding For Early Reading

For 2025–2026, Iowa provides about $7.82 million to districts for early reading services. Another $1.915 million funds statewide literacy screening and tracking from prekindergarten through grade six. The Iowa Reading Research Center gets $1.5 million for work with regional education agencies. Up to $250,000 supports teacher-preparation approval and advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement work. Unused center funds remain available through June 30, 2027, and the center must report spending and outcomes.

State Funds Iowa Public Broadcasting

For July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, Iowa provides about $8.17 million for public broadcasting. The money supports operations, capital costs, and up to 57.11 full-time-equivalent positions. It does not create a direct household payment.

State Funds School Administration And Testing

For 2025–2026, education department administration gets about $7.07 million and up to 71.62 full-time-equivalent positions. Career and technical education administration gets $721,779 and up to 10.80 positions. School performance goals, reviews, report cards, websites, and data systems get $250,000 and up to 1.85 positions. Another $3 million offsets statewide student assessment costs for districts and accredited nonpublic schools. Of that amount, up to $300,000 can go to University of Iowa testing programs for nonpublic school assessment administration.

State Funds Teacher Training And Quality

For 2025–2026, Iowa provides about $2.99 million for student achievement and teacher quality, supporting up to 5.87 full-time-equivalent positions. Required training for public and nonpublic schools gets about $2.18 million. The computer science professional development incentive fund gets $500,000. These funds support education programs and training rather than direct household payments.

Students Get Career Learning Support

For 2025–2026, Iowa provides about $9.95 million for district work-based learning, credentials, and Jobs for America’s Graduates services. Program specialists provide direct career education to identified middle and high school students in school districts. Regional career and technical education partnerships get about $2.95 million to reimburse eligible spending. Another $300,000 supports creation of a statewide work-based learning clearinghouse. Unused Jobs for America’s Graduates funds remain available through June 30, 2027.

Farm research and extension services funded

For July 2025 through June 2026, Iowa State University's Agricultural Experiment Station receives about $30.46 million. The money supports salaries, operations, maintenance, and related purposes, with up to 185.63 full-time equivalent staff positions. Agricultural and home-economics extension services receive about $18.16 million, with up to 240.41 full-time equivalent positions. These appropriations support research and extension services, not direct payments to farms or families.

Iowa nonprofit resource center receives funding

The Larned A. Waterman Iowa Nonprofit Resource Center receives $156,389 for July 2025 through June 2026. The law also allows up to 2.75 full-time equivalent staff positions. This supports the center and its staff; the provision does not specify household services or payments.

University biocatalysis center and staff funded

The University of Iowa Center for Biocatalysis receives $696,342 for July 2025 through June 2026. The law also allows up to 6.28 full-time equivalent staff positions. The money supports the center's operations and staffing, not direct household assistance.

Specialized schools receive prescription expense funds

For fiscal year 2025–2026, the Department of Administrative Services must forward county-collected money for student prescription expenses. Payments go to the Iowa School for the Deaf and Iowa Educational Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired. The law does not create a separate prescription payment obligation for students or families.

Community colleges get building project funding

For fiscal year 2025–2026, Iowa provides $6 million for qualifying community college building projects. Projects must meet the state's building infrastructure definition. They must include accelerated career education construction or major renovations or repairs. Eligible work includes health, life, and fire safety needs or Americans with Disabilities Act compliance.

Funding Supports Health Workers And Nursing

For 2025–2026, the law sets aside about $7.99 million for the health care professional incentive fund. That funding depends on enactment of Senate File 618, House File 972, or successor legislation establishing the fund. The University of Iowa also gets $2.8 million to hire additional nursing instructors and increase nursing graduates. The appropriation does not set individual health professional incentive awards.

Funding supports public university coordination

For fiscal year 2025–2026, the State Board of Regents office receives $764,642 for operations. The law allows up to 2.48 full-time equivalent positions. The Western Iowa Regents Resource Center receives $268,297 to support its operations or services.

Funding Supports Science And Technology Learning

For 2025–2026, Iowa provides about $6.35 million and up to five full-time-equivalent positions for science, technology, engineering, and math education. It supports teacher recruitment, school math and science, and teacher training and curriculum work with community colleges. At least $500,000 must fund technology education and information technology certifications through a public-private partnership. Unused funds up to 5% of the appropriation can support summer student programs through June 30, 2027. Iowa State also gets $2.8 million for high-demand technology degrees and certificates and innovation addressing workforce needs or digital agriculture, manufacturing, water quality, vaccine delivery, and biosciences.

Funding supports workforce training and pathways

For fiscal year 2025–2026, workforce training and economic development funds receive $15.1 million. The Department of Education can use no more than $100,000 of that amount for administration. Academic, career, and employment pathways receive $4.8 million; workforce education and employment outcome reporting receives $75,000. Covered unspent, uncommitted workforce appropriations remain available for their designated purposes through June 30, 2027.

State universities can finance energy savings

From July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, the Board of Regents can borrow for university energy-saving projects. Projects must be expected to save enough energy costs to recover their costs within an average of six years. The law sets no dollar limit for this authority. It does not specify household savings.

Teachers get awards and development support

For fiscal year 2025–2026, national board certification awards receive $508,250, including at least $85,000 for ambassador-to-education administration. Teacher development and evaluator training receive up to $728,216; development academies receive up to about $1.08 million. Beginning fine arts teacher mentoring receives up to $50,000. Teacher career paths and leadership support receive up to $626,191, with priority for districts enrolling fewer than 600 students. Administration is allowed for training, academies, and leadership support, with staffing caps of four for training and five for leadership.

University entrepreneurship centers receive added funding

The law provides $125,000 for John Pappajohn Centers for Entrepreneurship for July 2025 through June 2026. The University of Iowa, Iowa State University, and University of Northern Iowa split the money equally. The funds must add to, not replace, the centers' other funding. The law does not establish direct payments to businesses or households.

Best Buddies groups must report student data

Beginning July 1, 2025, organizations receiving Best Buddies Iowa funds must report identifying data about participating students each year. Reports go to the Iowa Department of Education and must follow its instructions. Reporting is required to receive funding. This duty falls on funded organizations, not students or their households.

Conditional funding cap for at-risk children

The law sets a conditional cap of about $10.52 million for specified at-risk children's programs in 2025–2026. The cap applies only if the standing-funding reduction in Senate File 445 or successor legislation is not enacted. Any reduction must be shared proportionally among the three listed programs. The cap applies through June 30, 2026.

Schools Can Face Literacy Screening Fees

Beginning July 1, 2025, the education department can charge districts and accredited nonpublic schools for literacy assessments. The per-pupil fee cannot exceed actual statewide license costs left after subtracting the state appropriation, divided by pupils assessed. Districts can use specified state early reading funds to pay. The law does not directly charge households.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 120 • No: 108

legislature vote • 5/13/2025

Amendment H-1344

Yes: 27 • No: 62

House vote • 5/13/2025

Passed House

Yes: 59 • No: 32

Senate vote • 5/12/2025

Passed Senate

Yes: 34 • No: 14

Actions Timeline

Explanations of votes.
6/27/2025House
Explanation of vote.
6/27/2025House
Explanation of vote.
6/27/2025House
Item vetoed, signed by Governor.
6/11/2025Senate
NOBA: Final
6/2/2025legislature
Reported correctly enrolled, signed by President and Speaker, and sent to Governor.
5/23/2025Senate
Message from House.
5/14/2025Senate
Immediate message.
5/13/2025House
Passed House, yeas 59, nays 32.
5/13/2025House
Amendment H-1344, yeas 27, nays 62, filed, lost.
5/13/2025House
NOBA: Senate Floor
5/13/2025Senate
Amendment H-1345, yeas 29, nays 62, filed, lost.
5/13/2025House
Substituted for HF 1045.
5/13/2025House
Read first time, passed on file.
5/13/2025House
Message from Senate.
5/13/2025House
Immediate message.
5/12/2025Senate
Passed Senate, yeas 34, nays 14.
5/12/2025Senate
Amendment S-3144 adopted, as amended.
5/12/2025Senate
Amendment S-3157 to S-3144 filed, adopted.
5/12/2025Senate
Amendment S-3144 filed.
5/9/2025Senate
NOBA: Senate Full Approps
5/6/2025Senate
Committee report, approving bill.
5/6/2025Senate
Introduced, placed on Appropriations calendar.
5/6/2025Senate

Bill Text

As Introduced
PDF
Enrolled
PDF

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