Bills › 91st General Assembly
Authorizing school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to employ chaplains, or engage volunteer chaplains, to provide services to students
Sponsored by the House Education Committee, Rep. Barb Kniff McCulla (R)
Topics:K–12 education
Same legislation: HF 334
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 12, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 17, 2025
- Done: House committeeMarch 4, 2025
- Done: Passes the HouseMarch 26, 202557–39
- Done: Senate committeeApril 7, 2025
- Stopped: Passes the SenateDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: To the Governor
- 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 authorizes school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to employ chaplains, or engage volunteer chaplains, to provide support, services, and programs for students. These schools may establish qualifications, credentialing, and other requirements related to chaplains who are employed or engaged under the bill’s provisions; however, such chaplains are not required to have a license, endorsement, certification, authorization, or statement of recognition issued by the board of educational examiners.
Read the full explanation
69 when employing chaplains or engaging volunteer chaplains. The bill prohibits school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools from requiring or coercing a student to utilize the support, services, or programs provided by a chaplain.
From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Changed since by amendment H-1129; see Amendments. Full bill text
Senate subcommittee
Named March 31, 2025. On April 2, 2025 it recommended amendment and 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
14 written public comments to its subcommittee: April 2, 2025 (14) · on the Legislature’s site
Iowa Code it changes
Creates§279.87
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 · 21 against · 2 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.
Tried before
91st General Assembly
Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title; check the text to be sure it’s the same idea.
Tried before
This idea has been filed in an earlier General Assembly. None got through a chamber.
- HF 2073 Authorizing school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to employ chapl…90th General Assembly · Subcommittee recommends passage · same titleCleared committee
Matched by the wording of each bill’s explanation, or an identical title. Companion bills and renumbered versions of this bill aren’t listed; they’re the same bill.