Executive Order 13

3 Shecutive Department ey

IN THE NAME AND By THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF lowA

EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER THIRTEEN

WHEREAS, on October 7, 2023, the terrorist organization Hamas committed evil and inhumane attacks against the people of Israel, taking hostages and killing innocent civilians;

WHEREAS, incidents of antisemitism have increased since the October 7th attacks, including particularly troubling incidents at colleges and universities across the United States;

WHEREAS, while I encouraged the presidents of lowa’s regent universities to remain vigilant in taking steps to combat antisemitism and many of lowa’s colleges and universities quickly condemned antisemitic speech and actions, some radical organizations and individuals around the country continue to engage in antisemitic actions on college and university campuses;

WHEREAS, on March 10, 2025, the United States Department of Education’s (USDOE) Office of Civil rights (OCR) announced efforts to ensure colleges and universities across the nation— including lowa—fulfill obligations owed under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to protect Jewish students;

WHEREAS, on April 22, 2025, the ADL (Anti-Defamation League) released its annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, which recorded 9,354 incidents of antisemitic assault, harassment, and vandalism across the United States in 2024 — the highest number ever recorded by ADL — representing a 5 percent increase from 2023, a 344 percent increase over the past five years, and a 926 percent increase over the past decade; the Audit further revealed that Iowa has experienced a 40 percent increase in incidents from 2023 and a 92 percent increase in antisemitic incidents since 2020;

WHEREAS, Iowa Code Chapter 261H promotes free speech at regent universities and protects speech by the campus community but acts of violence, physical or verbal threats, harassment, or other acts of antisemitic intimidation cannot be confused with freedom of speech and expression; and

WHEREAS, the State of Iowa reiterates its longstanding support for Israel and Towa’s Jewish community, and continues to condemn any form of threat, harassment, intimidation, hate speech, or other action that endangers the Jewish community or violates state or federal law; and

NOW, THEREFORE, I, KIMBERLY K. REYNOLDS, Governor of the State of Iowa, by virtue of the power and authority vested in me by the Constitution and statutes of the State of lowa do hereby ORDER and DIRECT the following:

aL The Iowa Board of Regents (“Board”) shall assist and fully cooperate with the USDOE, as found necessary and appropriate, in the USDOE OCR’s

VIL.

-ATTEST:

efforts to ensure the regent universities fulfill obligations owed under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to protect Jewish students.

The Board shall review the policies of the regent universities related to antisemitic actions and speech, as well as the response by each institution to any acts of antisemitism that have occurred at the institution since October 7th, 2023. The review shall be completed by November 1, 2025, with a written report provided to the Governor by December 1, 2025.

The Board shall conduct a follow-up review in 2026 concerning policy changes made by the regent universities related to antisemitic actions and speech, as well as the response of each institution to any acts of antisemitism that may occur after November 1, 2025, with a written report provided to the Governor by December Ist of each year thereafter.

Any incident or complaint of antisemitism that occurs on any regent university campus shall be immediately reported by such university to the Executive Director of the Board.

The Department of Education (“Department”) shall make available statewide to all public and nonpublic schools supplemental instructional materials to support meeting Iowa’s state content standards on Jewish history, the Holocaust, and Israel.

The Department also shall make available statewide to all public and nonpublic schools professional learning resources to support best practices in instruction on Jewish history, the Holocaust, and Israel.

The Board and the Department shall use the definition of antisemitism in Iowa Code Chapter 216F.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I HAVE HEREUNTO SUBSCRIBED MY NAME AND CAUSED THE GREAT SEAL OF THE STATE OF IOWA TO BE AFFIXED AT DES MOINES, IOWA THIS TWENTY-SEVENTH DAY OF JUNE IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FIVE.

PAUL D. PATE SECRETARY OF STATE