Bills › 91st General Assembly

HF 166Died when the session ended · January 30, 2025

Relating to public schools, including requiring public schools to display the national motto and the state motto and to start each day of classroom instruction with silent time

Sponsored by the House Education Committee

Topics:K–12 education

Same legislation: HSB 32

Where it is now

  1. Done: IntroducedJanuary 15, 2025
  2. Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 15, 2025
  3. Done: House committeeJanuary 28, 2025
  4. Stopped: Passes the HouseDied when the General Assembly ended
  5. Next: Senate committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
  6. Next: Passes the Senate
  7. Next: To the Governor
  8. Next: Signed into law

Died when the session ended The General Assembly adjourned on October 2, 2026. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

This bill relates to public schools, including requiring public schools to display the national motto and the state motto and to start each day of classroom instruction with silent time. The bill requires school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to display the national motto of the United States and the state motto of Iowa in the main entryway of each attendance center or in another location within an attendance center if the school determines that such location is more visible to students.

Read the full explanation

Current law requires school districts to administer the pledge of allegiance in grades through each day. The bill provides that, immediately prior to the recitation of the pledge of allegiance, each student shall be allowed two minutes of silent time. The bill also requires charter schools and innovation zone schools to start each day of classroom instruction by allowing students two minutes of silent time.

From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Amendments adopted later aren’t reflected. Full bill text

House subcommittee

Named January 15, 2025 (as HSB 32). On January 27, 2025 it recommended passage.

Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part

Iowa Code it changes

Creates§279.87

Amends§256E.7§256F.4§280.5

Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works

Lobbying

5 for · 6 against · 4 undecided · Who →

Family tree

Where this legislation came from and where it went: earlier tries, the versions it moved through this Assembly, and later bills built on it.

Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title; check the text to be sure it’s the same idea.