Sign in

Back to the bill

91st General Assembly · Funnel one-pager · Monday, November 9, 2026

HF 2649: Establishing a pilot program that authorizes eligible community colleges to offer baccalaureate degrees

Died when the session ended · The General Assembly adjourned on October 2, 2026. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died.

What it does

This bill establishes a pilot program that authorizes eligible community colleges to offer baccalaureate degrees. The pilot program is to be administered by the department of education pursuant to rules adopted by the state board of education. The bill establishes requirements related to the rules adopted by the state board of education, including requiring that the rules provide that a community college shall not offer a degree program that leads to a baccalaureate degree unless the community college’s main campus is located at least miles from the main campus of an institution of higher education governed by the state board of regents or the main campus of a private institution of higher education that is already offering the degree program that the community college proposes to offer.

Sponsors

Higher Education committee

Cost

Cost: up to $100,000

The fiscal impact of the Bill is unknown and will vary depending on how quickly and how many new baccalaureate programs are created during the pilot program. The DE estimates a one- time cost of $100,000 to expand STICS. Any additional costs to implement the r…

Senate subcommittee · named March 12, 2026

  • Sen. Tom Shipley (R) · tom.shipley@legis.iowa.gov
  • Sen. Tim Kraayenbrink (R) · tim.kraayenbrink@legis.iowa.gov
  • Sen. Herman C. Quirmbach (D) · herman.quirmbach@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 9 for, 3 against

For: Iowa Association of Community College Trustees; Iowa Association of School Boards; Iowa Central Community College; Iowa Dental Hygienists Association; Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition; Iowa Western Community College; Rural School Advocates of Iowa; School Administrators of Iowa; Urban Education Network of Iowa

Against: Faith Baptist Bible College; Iowa Association of Independent Colleges and Universities; Iowa Integrated Health Planning and Advisory Council

In plain words

  1. January 13, 2026Filed in the House and sent to the Higher Education committee · as HSB 533
  2. January 13, 2026House subcommittee named: Collins, Brown-Powers, Wills and J · as HSB 533
  3. January 20, 2026Subcommittee recommended passing it · as HSB 533
  4. January 28, 2026Approved by the House committee · as HSB 533
  5. January 28, 2026Committee vote: 9–1 · as HSB 533
  6. February 19, 2026Filed in the House
  7. February 19, 2026Approved by the House committee, and given a new number: HF 2649 · as HSB 533
  8. February 26, 2026Cost estimate (fiscal note) posted
  9. March 4, 2026Passed the House, 56–36
  10. March 5, 2026Arrived in the Senate
  11. March 12, 2026Senate subcommittee named: Shipley, Kraayenbrink and Quirmbach
  12. March 16, 2026Cost estimate (fiscal note) posted
  13. March 18, 2026Subcommittee recommended passing it

From public records at legis.iowa.gov, compiled by Funnel (iowafunnel.com), an independent, nonpartisan site. Current as of Monday, November 9, 2026. https://iowafunnel.com/bills/91/HF2649