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

HSB 537: Prohibiting private institutions of higher education that participate in the Iowa tuition grant program from establishing diversity, equity, and inclusion offices

Became HF 2488 · Its progress continues under the new number.

What it does

This bill prohibits a private institution of higher education, as defined in the bill, from establishing, sustaining, supporting, or staffing a diversity, equity, and inclusion office, as defined in the bill. The prohibition does not apply if otherwise provided by federal or state law or accreditation standards. The bill specifies activities that the bill shall not be construed to prohibit. _____ of higher education’s potential violation of the requirements of the bill to the attorney general, who shall provide notice of such report to the department of education and the institution within days.

Sponsors

Not listed

Cost

No fiscal note

House subcommittee · named January 20, 2026

  • Rep. Steven C. Holt (R) · steven.holt@legis.iowa.gov
  • Rep. Timi M. Brown-Powers (D) · timi.brown-powers@legis.iowa.gov
  • Rep. Skyler Wheeler (R) · skyler.wheeler@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 8 for, 13 against

For: Do No Harm Action; Iowa Baptists For Biblical Values; Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition; Iowans for Freedom; Kairos Nexus; Professional Educators of Iowa; Rick Phillips; VALOR Iowa

Against: AFSCME Council 61; American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa (ACLU-IA); Episcopal Diocese of Iowa; Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Action Fund; Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers; Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church; Iowa Integrated Health Planning and Advisory Council; Iowa Safe Schools; League of Women Voters of Iowa; NAACP, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Iowa-Nebraska; One Iowa; One Iowa Action; and 1 more

In plain words

  1. January 13, 2026Filed in the House and sent to the Higher Education committee
  2. January 13, 2026House subcommittee named: Stone, Brown-Powers and Wheeler
  3. January 20, 2026House subcommittee named: Holt, Brown-Powers and Wheeler
  4. February 9, 2026Subcommittee recommended passing it
  5. February 11, 2026Approved by the House committee
  6. February 11, 2026Committee vote: 7–4
  7. February 16, 2026Approved by the House committee, and given a new number: HF 2488

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/HSB537