Bills › 91st General Assembly
Establishing completion of a course on American history and civil government as a requirement for the completion of a baccalaureate degree program at a public institution of higher education
Sponsored by the House Higher Education Committee
Topics:Higher education
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 22, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 22, 2025
- Done: House committeeFebruary 12, 2025
- Stopped: Passes the HouseDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Senate committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
- Next: Passes the Senate
- 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 Starting in the 2027 school year, students working toward a bachelor's degree at Iowa's public colleges and universities must take a course on American history and government. This three-credit class will cover specific topics and readings required by the state. The course can also count toward a student's general education requirements in the social sciences.1
Read the official explanation
This bill requires a public institution of higher education to establish as a requirement for the completion of any baccalaureate degree program that a student complete a survey course in American history and civil government. The requirement begins with the academic year commencing in 2027. The bill provides minimum required subjects that must be taught and documents that students must read as part of the course. The bill defines a public institution of higher education as a regents institution or a community college with respect to any baccalaureate degree program offered by the community college and to any student enrolled in such a program. The bill provides that the course shall be assigned a value of three semester hours of credit and that the course shall fulfill any general education requirement in the social sciences that is a graduation requirement. The bill provides that a student shall not be required to complete the course again if transferring to another public institution of higher education.
House subcommittee
Named January 22, 2025 (as HSB 56). On February 5, 2025 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
9 written public comments to its subcommittee: March 4, 2025 (7), February 5, 2025 (1), January 28, 2025 (1) · on the Legislature’s site
Iowa Code it changes
Lobbying
7 for · 1 against · 6 undecided · Who →
Family tree
Study bill
91st General Assembly