Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to English learners, including by modifying provisions related to open enrollment and the payment of costs incurred in transporting English learners to nonpublic schools, and including applicability provisions
Sponsored by the House Education Committee
Topics:K–12 education
Same legislation: HSB 557
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 14, 2026
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 14, 2026
- Done: House committeeFebruary 4, 2026
- Done: Passes the HouseMarch 2, 202689–1
- Done: Senate committeeMarch 19, 2026
- Stopped: Passes the SenateDied when the General Assembly ended
- 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 New rules would allow schools to use extra funding to pay for transporting students who are learning English to nonpublic schools. If a parent wants their child to transfer to a different school district, the new district can only accept them if they have enough space and the right programs to help them learn English. The bill also sets the specific amount of money a student's home district must pay to the new school.1
Read the official explanation
This bill relates to English learners, including by modifying provisions related to open enrollment and the payment of costs incurred in transporting English learners to nonpublic schools. The bill provides that the additional weighting associated with English learners, in addition to paying for the excess costs of instruction, are to be used to pay for the costs of transporting English learners, including transportation to nonpublic schools. The bill provides that if a parent or guardian files a request for an English learner to open enroll, the request shall be granted only if the receiving district maintains a program to provide special instruction to English learners that is appropriate to meet the English learner’s educational needs and the enrollment of the English learner in the receiving district’s special instruction program would not cause the size of the class or caseload in that special instruction program in the receiving district to exceed the maximum class size or caseload, and if the English learner would be assigned to a general education class, there is sufficient classroom space in the general education class to which the English learner would be assigned. The bill establishes the amount that the English learner’s district of residence is required to pay to the receiving district. These provisions apply to open enrollment applications, requests, and notifications filed by a parent or guardian on or after the effective date of the bill.18(7)(b)(1), which describes amounts that districts of residence are required to pay to receiving districts for students who open enroll.
Senate subcommittee
Named March 10, 2026. On March 18, 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
Fiscal note
Minimal Compare with other bills
AI summary This bill allows school districts to use specific funding for English Learner students to pay for their transportation, including trips to nonpublic schools. The bill will have no fiscal impact to the state, and any change to the money school districts receive for transportation costs is expected to be minimal.3
From the note: House File 2363 will have no fiscal impact to the State. Any change to the allocation school districts receive from the Transportation School Equity appropriation is expected to be minimal.
- Open Enrollment, English-Language Learners · February 24, 2026
Iowa Code it changes
Lobbying
1 for · 0 against · 13 undecided · Who →
Family tree
Study bill
91st General Assembly