SF 369: Requiring students to pass the United States citizenship and immigration services naturalization civics test as a condition of high school graduation and high school equivalency diplomas

What it does

This bill requires the director of the department of education to develop and distribute to school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools a test that consists of the multiple-choice questions contained in the most recent version of the civics test developed by the United States citizenship and immigration services. The bill also requires the director to update the test every five years and distribute the updated test to schools. The bill requires the board of directors of each public school district, the authorities in charge of each nonpublic school, and the governing board of each charter school and innovation zone school to administer to students enrolled in grades through the most recent version of the test distributed by the director of the department of education.

Senate subcommittee · named January 22, 2025

• Sen. Jesse Green (R) · jesse.green@legis.iowa.gov
• Sen. Herman C. Quirmbach (D) · herman.quirmbach@legis.iowa.gov
• Sen. Jeff Taylor (R) · jeff.taylor@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 8 for, 9 against

For: Alliance for Civic Education of Iowa; Cicero Action; Iowa Baptists For Biblical Values; Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition; Iowa Minuteman Civil Defense Corps; PELLA PAC; Professional Educators of Iowa; VALOR Iowa

Against: Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Action Fund; Iowa Association of Christian Schools; Iowa Association of Community College Trustees; Iowa Association of School Boards; Iowa State Education Association; Personal Interest- Tony Thompson; Rural School Advocates of Iowa; School Administrators of Iowa; Urban Education Network of Iowa

In plain words

1. January 22, 2025Filed in the Senate and sent to the Education committee · as SSB 1030
2. January 22, 2025Senate subcommittee named: Green, Quirmbach and Taylor · as SSB 1030
3. January 30, 2025Subcommittee recommended passing it with changes · as SSB 1030
4. February 18, 2025Approved by the Senate committee, and given a new number: SF 369 · as SSB 1030
5. February 19, 2025Filed in the Senate
6. February 19, 2025Approved by the Senate committee
7. April 14, 2025Passed the Senate, 38–7
8. April 17, 2025Took the place of HF 165 on the House floor (the same legislation)
9. April 17, 2025Passed the House, 60–33
10. May 19, 2025Sent to the Governor
11. May 27, 2025Signed into law