Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to general education requirements, core curricula, other functions of regents institutions, and including applicability provisions
Sponsored by the Senate Education (companion To Lsb 5245hv By Committee on Higher Education) Committee, Sen. Kerry Gruenhagen (R)
Topics:K–12 education
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 12, 2026
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 13, 2026
- Done: Senate committeeFebruary 9, 2026
- Stopped: Passes the SenateDied when the General Assembly ended
- Skipped: House committeeSkipped
- Done: Passes the HouseMarch 12, 202658–33
- 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 relates to general education requirements, core curricula, and other functions of regents institutions. REGENTS INSTITUTIONS —— GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS AND CORE CURRICULA —— COURSES ON AMERICAN HISTORY AND AMERICAN GOVERNMENT. This division provides that the state board of regents (board) must require each institution to establish as a requirement for the completion of any general education requirements or core curricula that an undergraduate student complete introductory survey courses in American history and American government.
Read the full explanation
The requirement applies to undergraduate students beginning enrollment at institutions in academic years beginning on or after July 1, 2028. An institution shall assign a value of at least three semester hours of credit to each course. A required course shall be a comprehensive survey of all American history and American government. A required course shall fulfill the general education or core curriculum requirement for social sciences or humanities, as designated by the institution, that a student is required to complete as a condition of graduation. The division requires an institution to provide equivalent credit toward the required courses to a student transferring to the institution for previous substantially similar coursework. The division does not apply to a student completing a degree program designated by an institution as a degree program of three years or less in duration. The division requires the center for intellectual freedom at the university of Iowa, the center for cyclone civics at Iowa state university, and the center for civic education at the university of northern Iowa to annually designate courses at their respective institutions that satisfy these requirements. The division strikes a requirement that the center for intellectual freedom at the university of Iowa offer at least one three-semester credit hour course in American history and civil government. The division requires the board to conduct a review of all undergraduate general education requirements and core curricula at institutions no later than December 31, 2026. LECTURE AND DEBATE SERIES. This division requires the center for intellectual freedom at the university of Iowa, the center for cyclone civics at Iowa state university, and the center for civic education at the university of northern Iowa to each establish an ongoing lecture and debate series by December 31, 2026. The series must promote civil dialogue and debate on the issues most important to the American republic. CENTERS —— ANNUAL REPORTS. This division requires the directors of the center for cyclone civics at Iowa state university and the center for civic education at the university of northern Iowa to each submit an annual report to the governor, the general assembly, and the board of regents by December 31. The report must provide a full account of the respective center’s achievements and identify any opportunities, challenges, and obstacles in the development of the center.
From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Changed since by amendment H-8011; see Amendments. Full bill text
Fiscal note
House File 2361 is expected to increase instructional costs at the Regents universities beginning July 1, 2028 (FY 2029), to accommodate the additional course sections and required faculty to meet the new American History and American Government survey course mandates. Annual costs to each university are outlined in Figure 1 below.
- Regents Universities, General Education Requirements and Civic Profiency · March 11, 2026
- Regents Universities, General Education Requirements and Civic Profiency · March 3, 2026
Nonpartisan cost estimates from the Legislative Services Agency’s Fiscal Services Division. The newest is first. Reading a fiscal note
Iowa Code it changes
Creates§262.100§262.105§266.8§268.6
Amends§263C.3
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 · 4 against · 9 undecided · Who →
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