Iowa Education Legislative Watch
StateOther education

SF 2231

Protects student religious and political speech and expression at school

Requires school districts and some charter and innovation zone schools to protect students' religious, political, and ideological speech and clubs, with civil penalties for violations. It also requires the education department and districts to distribute federal guidance on religious expression and adopt compliance policies.

Official title

A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to the protected speech and expression rights of students, modifying provisions related to the duties of the department of education, and modifying eligibility and participation requirements for certain education programs, preschool programs, and tax provisions, providing civil penalties, and including retroactive applicability provisions. (Formerly SF 2060.) Effective date: 07/01/2026. Applicability date: 01/01/2026.

Signed5 of 5

Where it stands

  1. Introduced
  2. Committee
  3. Senate
  4. House
  5. Governor

Last action, May 22: Fiscal note.

Votes

On these agendas

  • Ways and Means CommitteeApr 7

    rsight. Call to Order Roll Call Approval of Minutes Sub Committee of the Whole- SF 2231-Boden Consideration of Bills: SF 2231-Boden Any other business Adjournment

  • Education CommitteeMar 19

    , Behn, Madison SF 2335 Fett Ch, Hayes, Matson SF 2319 Larson Ch, Stone, Ehlert SF 2231 Fett Ch, Gehlbach, Matson SF 2220 Gehlbach Ch, Bradley, Ramirez SF 273 Boden Ch

  • Education SubcommitteeMar 16

    Discuss SF 2231 Discuss SF 2231

History

  • Fiscal note.House · May 22
  • Signed by Governor. S.J. 1031.Senate · May 19
  • Reported correctly enrolled, signed by President and Speaker, and sent to Governor. S.J. 1028.Senate · May 5
  • Message from Senate. H.J. 948.House · Apr 20
  • Immediate message. S.J. 831.Senate · Apr 20
  • Passed Senate, yeas 28, nays 16. S.J. 830.Senate · Apr 20
  • Senate concurred with S-5177. S.J. 830.Senate · Apr 20
  • Fiscal note.Senate · Apr 20
  • Message from House, with amendment S-5177. S.J. 763.Senate · Apr 9
  • Immediate message. H.J. 863.House · Apr 8
  • Explanation of vote. H.J. 898.House · Apr 14
  • Passed House, yeas 63, nays 25. H.J. 862.House · Apr 8
  • Motion to suspend rules failed. H.J. 862.House · Apr 8
  • Explanation of vote. H.J. 898.House · Apr 14
  • Motion to suspend rules for immediate consideration of amendment H-8313, yeas 23, nays 65. H.J. 861.House · Apr 8
  • Point of order raised on Amendment H-8313, ruled not germane. H.J. 861.House · Apr 8
  • Amendments H-8310, H-8311, H-8312 withdrawn. H.J. 861.House · Apr 8
  • Amendment H-8316 adopted. H.J. 861.House · Apr 8
  • Amendment H-8268 adopted, as amended. H.J. 860.House · Apr 8
  • Motion to suspend rules prevailed. H.J. 860.House · Apr 8
  • Explanation of vote. H.J. 898.House · Apr 14
  • Motion to suspend rules for immediate consideration of amendment H-8268, as amended, yeas 64, nays 24. H.J. 860.House · Apr 8
  • Point of order raised on amendment H-8268, as amended, ruled not germane. H.J. 859.House · Apr 8
  • Amendment H-8309 to amendment H-8268 withdrawn. H.J. 859.House · Apr 8
  • Amendment H-8308 to amendment H-8268 out of order. H.J. 859.House · Apr 8
  • Amendment H-8315 to amendment H-8268 adopted. H.J. 859.House · Apr 8
  • Amendment H-8308 to amendment H-8268 deferred. H.J. 859.House · Apr 8
  • Amendment H-8307 to amendment H-8268 withdrawn. H.J. 859.House · Apr 8
  • Amendment H-8267 withdrawn. H.J. 859.House · Apr 8
  • Unanimous consent for immediate consideration. H.J. 858.House · Apr 8
  • Amendments H-8307, H-8308, H-8309, H-8310, H-8311, H-8312, H-8313, H-8315, H-8316 filed. H.J. 838.House · Apr 7
  • Placed on Ways and Means calendar. H.J. 837.House · Apr 7
  • Committee vote: Yeas, 17. Nays, 8. H.J. 837.House · Apr 7
  • Committee report, recommending passage. H.J. 837.House · Apr 7
  • Rereferred to Ways and Means. H.J. 820.House · Apr 6
  • Amendments H-8267 and H-8268 filed. H.J. 763.House · Mar 26
  • Placed on calendar under unfinished business. H.J. 760.House · Mar 26
  • Placed on calendar. H.J. 704.House · Mar 19
  • Committee vote: Yeas, 16. Nays, 7. H.J. 704.House · Mar 19
  • Committee report, recommending passage. H.J. 704.House · Mar 19
  • Subcommittee recommends passage.House · Mar 16
  • Subcommittee Meeting: 03/16/2026 12:45PM RM 102.House · Mar 10
  • Subcommittee: Fett, Gehlbach and Matson. H.J. 632.House · Mar 10
  • Read first time, referred to Education. H.J. 528.House · Mar 4
  • Message from Senate. H.J. 515.House · Mar 3
  • Immediate message. S.J. 448.Senate · Mar 3
  • Passed Senate, yeas 30, nays 14. S.J. 446.Senate · Mar 3
  • Fiscal note.Senate · Mar 2
  • Committee report, approving bill. S.J. 226.Senate · Feb 9
  • Introduced, placed on calendar. S.J. 222.Senate · Feb 9