Bills › 91st General Assembly
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
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 15, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 15, 2025
- Done: House committeeJanuary 28, 2025
- Stopped: Passes the HouseDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Senate committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The 2026 session adjourned on May 3, 2026, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary Public schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools would be required to display the national and state mottos in a visible area. These schools must also provide two minutes of silent time for students at the start of each day of instruction. If the school recites the pledge of allegiance, the silent time must happen right before the pledge begins.1
Read the official explanation
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. Current law requires school districts to administer the pledge of allegiance in grades 1 through 12 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.
Why it matters. Public school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools would be required to display the national and state mottos in visible areas of their buildings. These schools must also provide two minutes of silent time for students at the start of each day of classroom instruction and immediately before the recitation of the pledge of allegiance.2
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
2 written public comments to its subcommittee: January 27, 2025 (2) · on the Legislature’s site
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91st General Assembly