Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to the statewide preschool program by modifying provisions relating to eligibility, funding, and compulsory attendance and including applicability provisions
Sponsored by the House Education Committee, Rep. Ann Meyer (R)
Topics:K–12 education
Same legislation: HF 2092
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 15, 2026
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 21, 2026
- Done: House committeeFebruary 10, 2026
- Done: Passes the HouseFebruary 26, 202688–2
- Done: Senate committeeMarch 12, 2026
- Done: Passes the SenateMay 2, 202646–0
- Done: To the GovernorMay 13, 2026
- Done: Signed into lawJune 2, 2026
Signed into law What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
The statewide preschool program for four-year-old children under Code chapter 256C provides that a child who is a resident of Iowa and is four years of age on or before September of a school year shall be eligible to enroll in the preschool program. Additionally, to be included as an eligible student in the enrollment count of the preschool programming for state funding purposes, a child must be four years of age by September in the base year and attending the school district’s approved local program.
Read the full explanation
This bill expands the eligibility and state funding provisions of the statewide preschool program for four-year-old children under Code chapter 256C to also include five-year-old children who reach the age of five on or after March but on or before September of the calendar year during which the school year begins. However, if a child enrolled in the preschool program has been counted for state funding purposes under this Code chapter for a prior school year, the child shall not be counted for state funding purposes.1A relating to compulsory education is also modified to reflect changes made in the bill. The bill applies to school budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2027.
From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Amendments adopted later aren’t reflected. Full bill text · What changed before it passed
Senate subcommittee
Named March 9, 2026. On March 11, 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: February 3, 2026 (1) · on the Legislature’s site
Fiscal note
Cost: up to $949,000 Compare with other bills
The fiscal impact for HF 2493 for each new pupil participating in the SWVPP will be an additional cost to the General Fund of $4,074. In FY 2028, if 233 new pupils were enrolled in the SWVPP, the estimated maximum cost would be $949,000 paid through the school aid formula.
How the estimate changed
The largest dollar figure in each version’s summary.
- Final Fiscal Note — Eligibility for Statewide Preschool Program · May 28, 2026 · $949,000
- Eligiblity for Statewide Preschool Program · February 24, 2026 · $931,000
Nonpartisan cost estimates from the Legislative Services Agency’s Fiscal Services Division. The newest is first. Reading a fiscal note
Iowa Code it changes
Amends§256C.1§256C.2§256C.3§256C.4§298A.2§299.1A
Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works
Lobbying
5 for · 1 against · 15 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.
Tried before
91st General Assembly
Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title; check the text to be sure it’s the same idea.
Tried before
This idea has been filed in 2 earlier General Assemblies. None became law, though one got through a chamber.
- HF 14 Relating to the statewide preschool program by modifying provisions relating to eligibilit…89th General Assembly · Renumbered as HF 318 · same titleCleared committee
- HF 318 Relating to the statewide preschool program by modifying provisions relating to eligibilit…89th General Assembly · Passed House · same titlePassed a chamber
- SF 2201 Relating to the statewide preschool program by modifying provisions relating to eligibilit…89th General Assembly · In committee · same titleCleared committee
- HF 2048 Relating to the statewide preschool program by modifying provisions relating to eligibilit…88th General Assembly · Approved by committee · same titleCleared committee
- HF 2460 Relating to the statewide preschool program by modifying provisions relating to eligibilit…88th General Assembly · Approved by committee · same titleCleared committee
- HF 2621 Relating to the statewide preschool program by modifying provisions relating to eligibilit…88th General Assembly · In committee · same titleCleared committee
- HF 592 Relating to the statewide preschool program by modifying provisions relating to eligibilit…88th General Assembly · In committee · same titleCleared committee
- HF 783 Relating to the statewide preschool program by modifying provisions relating to eligibilit…88th General Assembly · In committee · same titleCleared committee
Similar bills this General Assembly
- HF 2450 Relating to the statewide preschool program by modifying provisions relating to eligibilit…91st General Assembly · In committeeVery similar
Matched by the wording of each bill’s explanation, or an identical title. Companion bills and renumbered versions of this bill aren’t listed; they’re the same bill.