Bills › 91st General Assembly

SF 322Died when the session ended · February 17, 2025

Establishing completion of a course on American history and civil government as a requirement for the completion of a baccalaureate degree program at a public institution of higher education

Sponsored by Sen. Mark S. Lofgren (R)

Topics:Higher education

Same legislation: HSB 56, HF 402

Where it is now

  1. Done: IntroducedFebruary 13, 2025
  2. Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 19, 2025
  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 Starting in the 2027 school year, students at Iowa's public colleges and universities must take a course on American history and government to earn a bachelor's degree. This three-credit class will cover specific topics and readings required by the state. If a student transfers to another public college in Iowa, they do not have to take the course again.1

Read the official explanation

This bill requires a public institution of higher education to establish as a requirement for the completion of any baccalaureate degree program that a student complete a survey course in American history and civil government. The requirement begins with the academic year commencing in 2027. The bill provides minimum required subjects that must be taught and documents that students must read as part of the course. The bill defines a public institution of higher education as a regents institution or a community college with respect to any baccalaureate degree program offered by the community college and to any student enrolled in such a program. The bill provides that the course shall be assigned a value of three semester hours of credit and that the course shall fulfill any general education requirement in the social sciences that is a graduation requirement. The bill provides that a student shall not be required to complete the course again if transferring to another public institution of higher education.

Full bill text2

Senate subcommittee

Named February 19, 2025. 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

9 written public comments to its subcommittee: March 4, 2025 (7), February 5, 2025 (1), January 28, 2025 (1) · on the Legislature’s site

Iowa Code it changes

Creates§261K.1§261K.2§261K.3§261K.4§261K.5

How the Code works3

Lobbying

7 for · 1 against · 6 undecided · Who →

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