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Bills › 91st General Assembly

SF 420Died when the session ended · February 24, 2025

Relating to Native American mascots in schools

Sponsored by Sen. William A. Dotzler Jr. (D), Sen. Janet Petersen (D), Sen. Art Staed (D), Sen. Janice Weiner (D), Sen. Mike Zimmer (D)

Topics:Civil rightsK–12 education

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Official bill pageLobbyist declarationsOne-pager to print

Where it is now

  1. Done: IntroducedFebruary 24, 2025
  2. Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 26, 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 2027, public and private schools in Iowa cannot use Native American names, symbols, or traditions as mascots, nicknames, or logos. This rule applies to school team names and letterheads as well. However, schools that are run by a Native American tribe are not affected by this change.1

Read the official explanation

This bill relates to Native American mascots in schools. The bill prohibits a public or nonpublic school from having or adopting a name, symbol, or image that depicts or refers to a Native American tribe, individual, custom, or tradition to be used as a mascot, nickname, logo, letterhead, or team name of the school on or after January 1, 2027. This prohibition does not apply to a school under the control of a Native American tribe and under the purview of the bureau of Indian education.

Full bill text2

Senate subcommittee

Named February 26, 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

Iowa Code it changes

Creates§280.36

How the Code works3

Lobbying

0 for · 0 against · 3 undecided · Who →

Family tree

Tried before

HF 2224Cleared committee89th GA

91st General Assembly

SF 420Cleared committee

Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title.

Tried before

This idea has been filed in an earlier General Assembly. None got through a chamber.

  • HF 2224 Relating to Native American mascots in schools
    89th General Assembly · In committee · same title
    Cleared committee

Matched by wording or an identical title.