Relating to and making appropriations to the education system, including the funding and operation of the department for the blind, department of education, and state board of regents

This bill relates to and makes appropriations to the education system. The bill appropriates moneys for FY 2026-2027 from the general fund of the state and other funds to the department for the blind, department of education, and state board of regents and its institutions. The bill is organized by divisions. DEPARTMENT FOR THE BLIND. The bill appropriates moneys to the department for the blind for its administration. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. The bill appropriates moneys to the department of education for purposes of the department’s general administration and for purposes of supporting the department’s various entities, programs, funds, and duties, including but not limited to the public broadcasting division, community colleges, the Iowa school for the deaf and Iowa educational services for the blind and visually impaired program, the division of special education, and the college student aid commission. The bill also appropriates moneys from the Iowa skilled worker and job creation fund to the department of education for various purposes. STATE BOARD OF REGENTS. The bill appropriates moneys to the state board of regents for the board office, universities’ general operating budgets, the western Iowa regents resource center, the state university of Iowa, the Iowa state university of science and technology, and the university of northern Iowa. STANDING APPROPRIATIONS.209.194(2). DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION —— REPORTING REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO ANTIBULLYING PROGRAMMING. The bill requires the department of education to submit an annual report to the general assembly that contains, in part, information related to the department’s antibullying programming. BOARD OF EDUCATIONAL EXAMINERS —— FEES. Current law requires the executive director of the board of educational examiners (BOEE) to deposit percent of the licensing fees collected annually with the treasurer of state, and such fees are to be credited to the general fund of the state. The bill strikes this provision. The bill provides that licensing fees collected during the fiscal year are required to be retained by, and are appropriated to, the BOEE for the purposes related to the BOEE’s duties. The bill makes conforming changes.