HF 165: 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

What it does

This bill requires 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. The bill provides that the board of directors of each local public school district and the authorities in charge of each nonpublic school are to require, commencing with the school year beginning July 1, 2026, all students in grades through to attain, as a condition of graduation, a passing score on an assessment that consists of the multiple choice questions contained in the most recent version of the civics test developed by the United States citizenship and immigration services.

House subcommittee · named January 15, 2025

• Rep. Bob Henderson (R) · robert.henderson@legis.iowa.gov
• Rep. Barb Kniff McCulla (R) · barb.kniffmcculla@legis.iowa.gov
• Rep. Elinor A. Levin (D) · elinor.levin@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 8 for, 9 against

For: Alliance for Civic Education of Iowa; Cicero Action; Iowa Baptists For Biblical Values; Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition; Iowa Minuteman Civil Defense Corps; PELLA PAC; Professional Educators of Iowa; VALOR Iowa

Against: Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Action Fund; Iowa Association of Christian Schools; Iowa Association of Community College Trustees; Iowa Association of School Boards; Iowa State Education Association; Personal Interest- Tony Thompson; Rural School Advocates of Iowa; School Administrators of Iowa; Urban Education Network of Iowa

In plain words

1. January 15, 2025Filed in the House and sent to the Education committee · as HSB 30
2. January 15, 2025House subcommittee named: Henderson, Kniff McCulla and Levin · as HSB 30
3. January 22, 2025Subcommittee recommended passing it · as HSB 30
4. January 28, 2025Approved by the House committee · as HSB 30
5. January 28, 2025Committee vote: 14–8 · as HSB 30
6. January 30, 2025Filed in the House
7. January 30, 2025Approved by the House committee, and given a new number: HF 165 · as HSB 30
8. April 17, 2025Withdrawn