HF 884: Authorizing school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to employ chaplains, or engage volunteer chaplains, to provide services to students

What it does

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.

Senate subcommittee · named March 31, 2025

• Sen. Mike Pike (R) · mike.pike@legis.iowa.gov
• Sen. Sandy Salmon (R) · sandy.salmon@legis.iowa.gov
• Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott (D) · sarah.trone.garriott@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 4 for, 21 against

For: Iowa Baptists For Biblical Values; Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition; The Family Leader; The Family Leader Foundation

Against: American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa (ACLU-IA); Common Good Iowa; Episcopal Diocese of Iowa; Iowa ACEs 360; Iowa Association of School Boards; Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers; Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church; Iowa Integrated Health Planning and Advisory Council; Iowa Mental Health Advocacy; Iowa School Counselors Association; Iowa School Psychologists Association; Iowa School Social Workers Association; and 9 more

In plain words

1. March 7, 2025Filed in the House
2. March 26, 2025Passed the House, 57–39
3. March 27, 2025Arrived in the Senate
4. March 31, 2025Senate subcommittee named: Pike, Salmon and Trone Garriott
5. April 2, 2025Subcommittee recommended passing it with changes
6. April 7, 2025Approved by the Senate committee