Meeting Public Comments

Subcommittee meeting and times are as follows:

A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to summative testing in schools and the educational program provided to students enrolled in kindergarten through grade twelve.(See HF 2670.)

Subcommittee members: Hayes-CH, Kurth, Larson

Date: Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Time: 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Location: RM 304

Names and comments are public records. Remaining information is considered a confidential record.

Comments Submitted:

02-17-2026

Hannah Horton

Social emotional learning is an integral part of whole child education. Removing it would be detrimental to the students in the classroom as well as the school environment as a whole. Multi cultural learning is wonderful! I want my children to be exposed to people and cultures different than theirs. It's also important to make all students feel welcomed and seen.

02-17-2026

Robin Maas

As a life long Iowa resident, parent, and Masters level educator with 17 years of experience, I oppose this bill. I wish to grow old in a society that all children have had the opportunity to receive a robust education, including how to problem solve, think critically, collaborate with others, and respond in a safe regulated manner when faced with challenges and adversity. I am a firm believer that a family is a childs first teacher. However, what happens when the parents arent available for 7 hours 5 days a week? Educators ARE professionals who have been trained in a vast variety of pedagogy and skills. Collaboratively with families, they can continue to make a difference when local control remains.

02-17-2026

Nicole Skaar

Getting rid of teaching social and emotional health in schools will only harm children. Yes, families teach these skills at home, but schools also need to support and teach these skills. Students experience different sort of tasks and relationships in schools, and the skills they learn at home need to be generalized to the school setting with guidance from teachers. Some students don't learn these skills at home, and schools are the only places where they learn them. Oppose!

02-17-2026

Stacy Volmer

I strongly oppose House Study Bill 746. This bill increases highstakes testing by adding more required assessments, taking time away from real learning and placing even more stress on students and teachers.Worse, it strips requirements for multicultural and genderfair education, removes attention to adverse childhood experiences, and weakens comprehensive health and human growth standards. Iowa students deserve an education grounded in research, inclusion, and preparation for a diverse, global world, not a narrowed, politicized curriculum.It also imposes new mandates without providing additional funding, forcing schools to stretch already limited resources.This bill moves Iowa backward. Please vote NO.

02-17-2026

Anna Burnham

oppose This bill will undo the teaching of social and emotional needs. So many of our students need these skills to help them deal with life at home and school. When these type of skills aren't taught at home where else will they learn to deal with life's issues in a positive way.

02-18-2026

Norma Ewinger

OPPOSED. Our children need social, emotional and multicultiral learning in our schools. Yes, our homes are their first source of learning. However, this needs to be expanded by qualified teachers who are with our students 7 hours a day 5 days a week. We want our children to be prepared to be good educated human beings. This was once an important part of schooling which some seem to be trying to change into making them productive workers. I believe if we give them a good social, emotional and multicultural background, they will be good productive workers in life. Don't take this opportunity from our children.

02-18-2026

David Anderson

The requirements and curricula being struck in this bill, while they might be considered "soft" skills, are nonetheless vital for our children to learn if they are to succeed and thrive in the 21st century economy. Vote No on HSB 746.

02-18-2026

Margaret Buman

Oppose! Social and emotional leaning is the cornerstone of early childhood education and child development. Professional cross disciplines, including educators, nurses, social workers, doctors, and psychologists recognize its importance in early learning. And financial literacy for teens is a must!