Bills › 91st General Assembly
Requiring students to pass the United States citizenship and immigration services naturalization civics test as a condition of high school graduation and high school equivalency diplomas
Topics:K–12 education
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 15, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 15, 2025
- Done: House committeeJanuary 28, 2025
- Done: Passes the HouseApril 17, 202560–33
- Skipped: Senate committeeSkipped
- Done: Passes the SenateApril 14, 202538–7
- Done: To the GovernorMay 19, 2025
- Done: Signed into lawMay 27, 2025
Became HF 165 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to HF 165 What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
This bill requires students to pass the United States citizenship and immigration services naturalization civics test as a condition of high school graduation and high school equivalency diplomas. The bill provides that the board of directors of each local public school district and the authorities in charge of each nonpublic school are to require, commencing with the school year beginning July 1, 2026, all students in grades through to attain, as a condition of graduation, a passing score on an assessment that consists of the multiple choice questions contained in the most recent version of the civics test developed by the United States citizenship and immigration services.
Read the full explanation
A student must answer at least percent of the questions on the assessment correctly to attain a passing score. A student who fails to answer at least percent of the questions on the assessment correctly may retake the assessment as many times as is necessary. The bill prohibits school districts and accredited nonpublic schools from imposing or collecting any fee in connection with the administration of the assessment. The bill requires the state board of education to adopt rules to administer these provisions. The bill provides that individuals seeking a high school equivalency diploma must also pass such an examination.
From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Changed since by amendments H-1229, S-3096; see Amendments. Full bill text · What changed before it passed
House subcommittee
Named January 15, 2025. On January 22, 2025 it recommended passage.
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Iowa Code it changes
Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works
Lobbying
8 for · 9 against · 4 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.
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91st General Assembly
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