Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to consideration of the educational setting of a minor child in a child custody proceeding
Sponsored by the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Bill Gustoff (R)
Topics:Courts & civil lawK–12 education
Same legislation: HF 347
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 12, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 20, 2025
- Done: House committeeMarch 4, 2025
- Stopped: Passes the HouseDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Senate committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
- Next: Passes the Senate
- 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, courts will now assume it is best for the child to stay in the same school they attended the previous year. Judges must include specific rules in custody orders about each parent's rights and responsibilities regarding the child's education. Any parent with legal custody must also give a copy of these court orders to the child's school.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 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 of the child to whom the order applies.
House subcommittee
Named January 16, 2026. On January 22, 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
Iowa Code it changes
Lobbying
3 for · 1 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
- SF 182 Relating to consideration of the educational setting of a minor child in a child custody p…91st General Assembly · Renumbered as SF 515Nearly identical
Matched by wording or an identical title.