Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to social studies instruction provided to students enrolled in grades seven through twelve, and including applicability provisions
Sponsored by the House Education (companion To Sf 2121 By Evans) Committee
Topics:K–12 education
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 21, 2026
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 21, 2026
- Done: House committeeJanuary 28, 2026
- Done: Passes the HouseMarch 3, 202670–26
- Done: Senate committeeMarch 19, 2026
- Stopped: Passes the SenateDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: To the Governor
- 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 social studies instruction provided to students enrolled in grades through 12. Current law requires that the social studies instruction provided to students enrolled in school districts and accredited nonpublic schools in grades seven and eight include instruction related to civics. The bill requires that the social studies instruction provided to students enrolled in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools in grades seven and eight also include instruction related to United States government.
Read the full explanation
The instruction related to civics and United States government must be at least one-half semester, or the trimester or quarter equivalent. Current law requires school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to offer and teach one-half unit of United States government instruction as part of the required five units of social studies instruction in grades through 12. The bill requires that the United States government instruction provided to students enrolled in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools in grades through also include instruction related to civics, and increases the offer and teach requirement from one-half unit to one unit. The bill applies to school years beginning on or after July 1, 2028.
From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Changed since by amendment H-8076; see Amendments. Full bill text
House subcommittee
Named January 21, 2026 (as HSB 594). On January 22, 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
1 written public comment to its subcommittee: January 22, 2026 (1) · on the Legislature’s site
Fiscal note
The introduced version of House File 2244 required a Fiscal Note that included an undetermined fiscal impact. House File 2244 was amended by the House on March 3, 2026, and the Bill no longer requires a Fiscal Note. /s/ Jennifer Acton March 5, 2026 Doc ID 1602065 The Fiscal Note for this Bill was prepared pursuant to Joint Rule 17 and the Iowa Code.
- High School Social Studies Curricula, Government · March 5, 2026
- High School Social Studies Curricula, Government · March 2, 2026
Nonpartisan cost estimates from the Legislative Services Agency’s Fiscal Services Division. The newest is first. Reading a fiscal note
Iowa Code it changes
Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works
Lobbying
8 for · 0 against · 10 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.
Study bill
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