Bills › 91st General Assembly

SF 2149Died when the session ended · January 29, 2026

Relating to civil actions against school board members and superintendents for school policies that violate state law

Sponsored by Sen. Doug Campbell (R)

Topics:Courts & civil lawK–12 education

Where it is now

  1. Done: IntroducedJanuary 29, 2026
  2. Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 3, 2026
  3. Stopped: Senate committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
  4. Next: Passes the Senate
  5. Next: House committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
  6. Next: Passes the House
  7. Next: To the Governor
  8. 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 If a person living in a school district thinks a school board or superintendent is breaking state law with a new policy, they can tell the county attorney. The county attorney can then take the school district to court to make them follow the law. If the county attorney wins, the court will order the school to comply and award money to the county attorney's office to cover costs or penalties.1

Read the official explanation

This bill relates to civil actions against school board members and superintendents for school policies that violate state law. The bill provides that if any person residing in a school district believes that the board of directors of the school district or the superintendent of the school district has adopted a policy that is in violation of any state law, the person may notify the county attorney of the potential violation. The county attorney may bring a civil action against the members of the board of directors of the school district who voted in favor of adopting the policy that may be in violation of a state law, and against the superintendent of the school district, to compel the school district to comply with state law. The bill establishes that if the county attorney is the prevailing party in the civil action, the court shall grant the injunctive relief sought by the county attorney and award the county attorney an amount equal to the greater of $1,000 for each defendant that the court finds adopted a policy that is in violation of state law or the costs the county attorney incurred in bringing the civil action. Any moneys awarded must be deposited in the general fund of the county for the use of the county attorney in carrying out the county attorney’s duties.

Full bill text2

Senate subcommittee

Named February 3, 2026. It hasn’t reported yet.

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

Iowa Code it changes

Creates§279.89

How the Code works3

Lobbying

1 for · 6 against · 0 undecided · Who →

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