Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to the verification of the identity and employment eligibility of individuals by the board of educational examiners, school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools, and including applicability provisions
Topics:K–12 education
Same legislation: SF 2218
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 13, 2026
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 13, 2026
- Done: Senate committeeFebruary 4, 2026
- Done: Passes the SenateFebruary 25, 202647–0
- Done: House committeeMarch 11, 2026
- Done: Passes the HouseMarch 17, 202678–16
- Done: To the GovernorMay 18, 2026
- Done: Signed into lawJune 2, 2026
Became SF 2218 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to SF 2218 What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
This bill relates to the verification of the identity and employment eligibility of individuals by the board of educational examiners (BOEE), school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools. The bill requires the BOEE to require all initial applicants for licensure and all applicants for license renewal to produce evidence of the applicant’s lawful presence in the United States as a condition of initial licensure or license renewal. These requirements apply to all applications for initial licensure, and all applications for license renewal, that are submitted to the BOEE on or after the effective date of the bill.
Read the full explanation
Practitioners who are not subject to license renewal requirements are required to produce evidence of the practitioner’s lawful presence in the United States every five years as a condition of remaining licensed. The bill establishes the documents that the BOEE will accept as proof of an applicant’s or practitioner’s lawful presence. The bill requires the board of directors of each school district, the authorities in charge of each accredited nonpublic school, and the governing board of each charter school and innovation zone school to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all individuals who have accepted an offer of employment in accordance with federal law.
From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Changed since by amendments H-8220, S-5030; see Amendments. Full bill text · What changed before it passed
Senate subcommittee
Named January 13, 2026. On January 29, 2026 it recommended passage.
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
1 written public comment to its subcommittee: March 10, 2026 (1) · on the Legislature’s site
Fiscal note
No fiscal impact is anticipated for the BOEE or DCI. Any additional costs to implement the requirements of this Division will be absorbed by existing staff within the BOEE. Costs associated with providing evidence of legal authorization to work in the United States, as well as additional fees, will be the responsibility of the applicant.
- Final Fiscal Note — Educational Practitioner Licensing, Lawful Presence Verification · May 28, 2026
- Educational Practitioner Licensing, Lawful Presence Verification · March 19, 2026
Nonpartisan cost estimates from the Legislative Services Agency’s Fiscal Services Division. The newest is first. Reading a fiscal note
Iowa Code it changes
Creates§280.37
Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works
Lobbying
4 for · 4 against · 14 undecided · Who →
Family tree
Where this legislation came from and where it went: earlier tries, the versions it moved through this Assembly, and later bills built on it.
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91st General Assembly
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