Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to consideration of the educational setting of a minor child in a child custody proceeding
Sponsored by the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Jeff Taylor (R)
Topics:Courts & civil law
Same legislation: SF 182
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 3, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 4, 2025
- Done: Senate committeeMarch 5, 2025
- Done: Passes the SenateApril 9, 202547–0
- Stopped: House committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: To the Governor
- 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 When parents disagree about where a child should go to school, judges must consider the child's current school when deciding on custody. The law assumes it is best for a child to stay in the same school they attended the previous year unless someone proves otherwise. Court orders must clearly state each parent's rights and responsibilities regarding the child's education.1
Read the official explanation
This bill provides that in determining temporary custody orders or the award of joint legal custody for a minor child, if the parents are in disagreement over the minor child’s educational setting, the court is to consider the educational setting of the minor child. In the case of awarding joint legal custody, the court is also to include a provision in the order regarding the educational setting of the minor child. There is a rebuttable presumption that it is in the best interest of the minor child to remain in the educational setting in which the minor child was enrolled during the immediately preceding school year. The presumption is rebuttable only by a preponderance of the evidence that such educational setting is not in the best interest of the child. The bill also defines “educational setting”. The bill directs that all orders relating to the custody of a child shall specify the rights and responsibilities of each parent relative to the minor child’s educational setting and specifies the minimum rights and responsibilities to be addressed in the order. The order shall not require that a parent have physical access to a child during the school day or be allowed to remove the child from the educational setting during school hours if the child is being provided competent private instruction or independent private instruction. The bill requires that any parent with legal custody of the child is to provide a copy of the order to the educational setting and to the school district of the child to whom the order applies.
Why it matters. When parents disagree on a child's schooling during custody disputes, courts must consider the child's current educational setting and include specific provisions about it in custody orders. There is a presumption that it is in a child's best interest to stay in the same educational setting they attended the previous school year unless evidence shows otherwise. Parents with legal custody must provide a copy of the custody order to the child's school or educational setting.2
Changed since by amendment S-3087; see Amendments.
Iowa Code it changes
Lobbying
4 for · 0 against · 3 undecided · Who →
Family tree
Tried before
91st General Assembly
Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title.
Tried before
This idea has been filed in 2 earlier General Assemblies. None became law, though one got through a chamber.
- HF 636 Relating to consideration of the educational setting of a minor child in a child custody p…90th General Assembly · Passed House · same titlePassed a chamber
- HF 438 Relating to consideration of the educational setting of a minor child in a child custody p…90th General Assembly · Renumbered as HF 636 · very similarCleared committee
- HF 824 Relating to consideration of the educational setting of a minor child in a child custody p…89th General Assembly · Approved by committee · same titleCleared committee
- SF 2094 Relating to consideration of the educational setting of a minor child in a child custody p…89th General Assembly · Subcommittee recommends passage · same titleCleared committee
- HF 507 Relating to consideration of the educational setting of a minor child in a child custody p…89th General Assembly · Renumbered as HF 824 · very similarCleared committee
Similar bills this General Assembly
- HF 347 Relating to consideration of the educational setting of a minor child in a child custody p…91st General Assembly · Renumbered as HF 824Nearly identical
Matched by wording or an identical title.