Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to selection committees for presidents of regents institutions
Sponsored by the House Higher Education Committee
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 13, 2026
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 13, 2026
- Done: House committeeJanuary 28, 2026
- Done: Passes the HouseMarch 12, 202663–27
- 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 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 Iowa's state board of regents must now use a specific committee to help choose leaders for state universities. This committee will pick the best candidates and recommend them to the board, which can only choose a president from that list. To find these leaders, the committee can hire professional recruiters and keep the names of applicants private.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. Under current law, the state board of regents may use a presidential selection committee when electing a president of an institution of higher learning under the control of the board. Only board members can serve as voting members of the committee. This bill requires the board to use such a committee and specifies committee membership. The committee must recommend the most well-qualified candidates considered by the committee to the board, which shall only elect a president from the recommended candidates. The bill authorizes a committee to contract for and use the services of any person engaged in the business of placing highly qualified job candidates in leadership positions and to use moneys allocated to the committee by the board. The bill provides that the identity of a candidate being considered by the committee shall be confidential for purposes of Code chapter 22 (open records) and shall not be subject to public disclosure unless the identity of the candidate is made public pursuant to the terms of a written agreement.
Why it matters. The state board of regents would be required to use a specific committee to select candidates for university presidents. This committee must recommend the most qualified candidates to the board, and the board can only elect a president from that list. The committee is also allowed to hire professional recruiters and keep the identities of candidates confidential.2
Changed since by amendment H-8003; see Amendments.
House subcommittee
Named January 13, 2026 (as HSB 538). On January 15, 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: February 11, 2026 (1) · on the Legislature’s site
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