Relating to video recording systems in special education classrooms

Where it is now

Done: IntroducedJanuary 30, 2026
Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 9, 2026
Done: House committeeFebruary 18, 2026
Skipped: Passes the HouseContinued as HF 2681
Next: Senate committee
Next: Passes the Senate
Next: To the Governor
Next: Signed into law

Became HF 2681 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to HF 2681 What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

AI summary Iowa schools, including charter and innovation zone schools, would be required to install video recording systems in every special education classroom. These systems must follow all state and federal privacy laws. To pay for this requirement, school districts would use money from the state school foundation aid they receive.¹

Read the official explanation

The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. This bill requires school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to install a video recording system in each special education classroom in each attendance center. Such video recording system, and any recordings created by such video recording system, must be consistent with the requirements of applicable state and federal privacy laws.3.16.2. The inclusion of this specification is intended to reinstate the requirement of school districts to comply with any state mandates included in the bill.

Why it matters. School districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools would be required to install video recording systems in every special education classroom within each of their buildings. These systems and their recordings must follow all applicable state and federal privacy laws.²

Full bill text³

House subcommittee

Named February 9, 2026. On February 12, 2026 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

4 written public comments to its subcommittee: February 12, 2026 (4) · on the Legislature’s site

Fiscal note

AI summary This bill requires public schools to install video recording systems in every special education classroom. Initial implementation costs for public schools are estimated to be $21.7 million, while ongoing replacement and maintenance costs cannot be estimated. These costs would be paid by school districts using State Foundation School Aid.⁴

Read the fiscal note

Description

House File 2681 requires public schools to install a video recording system in each special education classroom in each attendance center. The video recording system and any recording created must meet stated requirements. This Bill requires school districts to pay costs required by the Bill from State Foundation School Aid per Iowa Code section 25B.2 (State Mandates).

Background

According to the Department of Education (DE) 2025-2026 Iowa Public School Building Directory, there are 1,321 attendance centers statewide. Within those attendance centers, it is unknown the number of self-contained special education classrooms, the total number of special education classrooms, or the number of blended special education and general education classrooms.

Several states, including the following, have enacted similar legislation for the installation of cameras in special education classrooms:

Texas
West Virginia
Louisiana
Alabama

Assumptions

The number of special education classrooms is estimated based on the school district size:
Enrollment of 0 to 500 — two special education classrooms per attendance center covering 442 classrooms.
Enrollment of 501 to 1,000 — three special education classrooms per attendance center covering 969 classrooms.
Enrollment of 1,001 to 5,000— four special education classrooms per attendance center covering 2,260 classrooms.
Enrollment of 5,001 and above — seven special education classrooms per attendance center covering 2,275 classrooms.
The estimated number of cameras required will be 5,946.
The cost of cameras, licensing, software, and installation is estimated to be $3,000 per camera.
Annual video storage costs per camera will be $650.

Fiscal Impact

House File 2681 is expected to have no fiscal impact to the Department of Education. Initial implementation costs for public schools are estimated to be $21.7 million. There will be ongoing replacement and maintenance costs; however, these cannot be estimated.

Sources

Department of Education
Iowa Association of School Boards

Special Education Classrooms, Cameras · March 11, 2026

Reading a fiscal note⁵

Iowa Code it changes

Creates§279.89

Amends§256E.7 §256F.4

How the Code works⁶

Lobbying

1 for · 6 against · 12 undecided · Who →

Family tree

91st General Assembly

HF 2218Renumbered HF 2681Cleared committeefrom HF 2218

Notes

The summary is written by an AI model from the official explanation. It can miss details; the explanation and the bill are what count. ↩
Written by an AI model from the official explanation and fiscal note only, for bills that passed a chamber, drew heavy lobbying or carry a large cost. It doesn’t weigh whether the bill is a good idea. ↩
The explanation is printed with the bill as introduced and written by the Legislative Services Agency, the Legislature’s nonpartisan staff. Amendments adopted later aren’t reflected in it. ↩
Written by an AI model from the newest fiscal note. It can miss details; the note itself is what counts. ↩
Fiscal notes are nonpartisan cost estimates from the Legislative Services Agency’s Fiscal Services Division. The newest is listed first. ↩
Code sections are read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. ↩