HF 2591: Relating to open enrollment, student transfers, and interscholastic athletic eligibility requirements, and including effective date provisions

What it does

This bill relates to open enrollment, student transfers, and interscholastic athletic eligibility requirements. Current law provides that a student who participates in open enrollment in grades through is ineligible to participate in varsity interscholastic athletic contests and competitions during the student’s first school days of enrollment. The bill changes this restriction from school days to 140 calendar days. The bill maintains existing exceptions that permit a student to participate immediately in a varsity interscholastic sport under certain conditions.

Senate subcommittee · named March 10, 2026

• Sen. Tom Shipley (R) · tom.shipley@legis.iowa.gov
• Sen. Kerry Gruenhagen (R) · kerry.gruenhagen@legis.iowa.gov
• Sen. Mike Zimmer (D) · mike.zimmer@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 3 for, 0 against

For: Rural School Advocates of Iowa; School Administrators of Iowa; Urban Education Network of Iowa

In plain words

1. February 18, 2026Filed in the House
2. March 2, 2026Passed the House, 90–0
3. March 3, 2026Arrived in the Senate
4. March 10, 2026Senate subcommittee named: Shipley, Gruenhagen and Zimmer
5. March 12, 2026Subcommittee recommended passing it with changes
6. March 17, 2026Approved by the Senate committee
7. April 1, 2026Passed the Senate, 46–0
8. April 7, 2026Passed the House, 93–0
9. April 14, 2026Passed the Senate, 43–4
10. May 6, 2026Sent to the Governor
11. June 2, 2026Signed into law