Bills › 91st General Assembly

HF 2361Died when the session ended · March 12, 2026

Relating to general education requirements, core curricula, other functions of regents institutions, and including applicability provisions

Sponsored by the House Higher Education Committee

Topics:Higher education

Same legislation: SF 2033, HSB 543, SF 2232

Write your legislators about it

Also covers SF 2033 and HSB 543 and SF 2232.

Where it is now

  1. Done: IntroducedJanuary 12, 2026
  2. Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 13, 2026
  3. Done: House committeeFebruary 4, 2026
  4. Done: Passes the HouseMarch 12, 202658–33
  5. Done: Senate committeeMarch 19, 2026
  6. Stopped: Passes the SenateDied when the General Assembly ended
  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 general education requirements, core curricula, and other functions of regents institutions. REGENTS INSTITUTIONS —— GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS AND CORE CURRICULA —— COURSES ON AMERICAN HISTORY AND AMERICAN GOVERNMENT. This division provides that the state board of regents (board) must require each institution to establish as a requirement for the completion of any general education requirements or core curricula that an undergraduate student complete introductory survey courses in American history and American government.

Read the full explanation

The requirement applies to undergraduate students beginning enrollment at institutions in academic years beginning on or after July 1, 2028. An institution shall assign a value of at least three semester hours of credit to each course. A required course shall be a comprehensive survey of all American history and American government. A required course shall fulfill the general education or core curriculum requirement for social sciences or humanities, as designated by the institution, that a student is required to complete as a condition of graduation. The division requires an institution to provide equivalent credit toward the required courses to a student transferring to the institution for previous substantially similar coursework. The division does not apply to a student completing a degree program designated by an institution as a degree program of three years or less in duration. The division requires the center for intellectual freedom at the university of Iowa, the center for cyclone civics at Iowa state university, and the center for civic education at the university of northern Iowa to annually designate courses at their respective institutions that satisfy these requirements. The division strikes a requirement that the center for intellectual freedom at the university of Iowa offer at least one three-semester credit hour course in American history and civil government. The division requires the board to conduct a review of all undergraduate general education requirements and core curricula at institutions no later than December 31, 2026. LECTURE AND DEBATE SERIES. This division requires the center for intellectual freedom at the university of Iowa, the center for cyclone civics at Iowa state university, and the center for civic education at the university of northern Iowa to each establish an ongoing lecture and debate series by December 31, 2026. The series must promote civil dialogue and debate on the issues most important to the American republic. CENTERS —— ANNUAL REPORTS. This division requires the directors of the center for cyclone civics at Iowa state university and the center for civic education at the university of northern Iowa to each submit an annual report to the governor, the general assembly, and the board of regents by December 31. The report must provide a full account of the respective center’s achievements and identify any opportunities, challenges, and obstacles in the development of the center.

From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Changed since by amendment H-8011; see Amendments. Full bill text

House subcommittee

Named January 13, 2026 (as HSB 543). 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

Fiscal note

House File 2361 is expected to increase instructional costs at the Regents universities beginning July 1, 2028 (FY 2029), to accommodate the additional course sections and required faculty to meet the new American History and American Government survey course mandates. Annual costs to each university are outlined in Figure 1 below.

Nonpartisan cost estimates from the Legislative Services Agency’s Fiscal Services Division. The newest is first. Reading a fiscal note

Iowa Code it changes

Creates§262.100§262.105§266.8§268.6

Amends§263C.3

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

Lobbying

4 for · 4 against · 9 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.