House File 2676 H-8069 Amend House File 2676 as follows: 1 1. Page 7, after line 23 by inserting: 2 < DIVISION ___ 3 EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS 4 Sec. ___. Section 256.11, subsection 2, Code 2026, is 5 amended to read as follows: 6 2. a. The kindergarten program shall include experiences 7 designed to develop healthy emotional and social habits and 8 growth in the language arts and communication skills, as well 9 as a capacity for the completion of individual tasks, and 10 protect and increase physical well-being with attention given 11 to experiences relating to the development of life skills and, 12 subject to section 279.80 , age-appropriate and research-based 13 human growth and development. The kindergarten program shall 14 also include instruction related to nutrition that emphasizes 15 all of the following: 16 (1) The importance of animal-based protein, dairy, 17 vegetables, and fruit. 18 (2) The nutritional benefits of animal-based protein, 19 dairy, vegetables, and fruit. 20 (3) The role that animal-based protein, dairy, vegetables, 21 and fruit play in a balanced diet. 22 b. A kindergarten teacher shall be licensed to teach in 23 kindergarten. 24 c. An accredited nonpublic school must meet the requirements 25 of this subsection only if the nonpublic school offers a 26 kindergarten program; provided, however, that section 279.80 27 shall not apply to a nonpublic school. 28 Sec. ___. Section 256.11, subsection 3, paragraph a, 29 subparagraph (5), Code 2026, is amended to read as follows: 30 (5) Health. The health curriculum shall include the all of 31 the following: 32 (a) The characteristics of communicable diseases. 33 (b) Instruction related to nutrition that emphasizes all of 34 the following: 35 -1- HF 2676.2961 (2) 91 ss/ko 1/ 7 #1.
(i) The importance of animal-based protein, dairy, 1 vegetables, and fruit. 2 (ii) The nutritional benefits of animal-based protein, 3 dairy, vegetables, and fruit. 4 (iii) The role that animal-based protein, dairy, 5 vegetables, and fruit play in a balanced diet. 6 Sec. ___. Section 256.11, subsection 4, paragraph a, 7 subparagraphs (5) and (7), Code 2026, are amended to read as 8 follows: 9 (5) Health. The health curriculum shall include 10 age-appropriate all of the following: 11 (a) Age-appropriate and research-based information 12 regarding the characteristics of sexually transmitted diseases. 13 (b) Instruction related to nutrition that emphasizes all of 14 the following: 15 (i) The importance of animal-based protein, dairy, 16 vegetables, and fruit. 17 (ii) The nutritional benefits of animal-based protein, 18 dairy, vegetables, and fruit. 19 (iii) The role that animal-based protein, dairy, 20 vegetables, and fruit play in a balanced diet. 21 (7) Career instruction, exploration, and development, which 22 shall include career investigation, career connections, and 23 career intentions. Career exploration and development shall 24 be designed so that students are appropriately prepared to 25 create an individualized career and academic plan pursuant to 26 section 279.61, incorporate foundational career and technical 27 education concepts aligned with the six career and technical 28 education service areas as defined in subsection 5, paragraph 29 “h” , incorporate relevant twenty-first century skills to 30 facilitate career readiness, and introduce students to career 31 opportunities within the local community and across this state. 32 This subparagraph shall not apply to the teaching of career 33 exploration and development in nonpublic schools. 34 Sec. ___. Section 256.11, subsection 4, paragraph b, Code 35 -2- HF 2676.2961 (2) 91 ss/ko 2/ 7
2026, is amended to read as follows: 1 b. Computer science instruction incorporating the standards 2 established under section 256.7, subsection 26 , paragraph “a” , 3 subparagraph (4), shall be offered in at least one grade level 4 commencing with the school year beginning July 1, 2023. Career 5 exploration and development shall be designed so that students 6 are appropriately prepared to create an individual career 7 and academic plan pursuant to section 279.61 , incorporate 8 foundational career and technical education concepts aligned 9 with the six career and technical education service areas as 10 defined in subsection 5 , paragraph “h” , incorporate relevant 11 twenty-first century skills to facilitate career readiness, and 12 introduce students to career opportunities within the local 13 community and across this state. 14 Sec. ___. Section 256.11, subsection 5, paragraph h, 15 subparagraph (1), subparagraph division (a), Code 2026, is 16 amended to read as follows: 17 (a) Agriculture, food, and natural resources , which 18 shall include instruction relating to food production and the 19 benefits of local sourcing . 20 Sec. ___. Section 256.11, subsection 5, paragraph j, 21 subparagraph (1), Code 2026, is amended to read as follows: 22 (1) One unit of health education which may include 23 personal health; food and nutrition; environmental health; 24 safety and survival skills; consumer health; family life; 25 age-appropriate and research-based human growth and development 26 that incorporates the standards established under section 27 279.50, subsection 3 , paragraph “b” ; substance use disorder 28 and nonuse; emotional and social health; health resources; 29 cardiopulmonary resuscitation; and prevention and control 30 of disease, including age-appropriate and research-based 31 information regarding sexually transmitted diseases. The one 32 unit of health education shall include instruction related to 33 nutrition that emphasizes all of the following: 34 (a) The importance of animal-based protein, dairy, 35 -3- HF 2676.2961 (2) 91 ss/ko 3/ 7
vegetables, and fruit. 1 (b) The nutritional benefits of animal-based protein, 2 dairy, vegetables, and fruit. 3 (c) The role that animal-based protein, dairy, vegetables, 4 and fruit play in a balanced diet. 5 Sec. ___. Section 256E.7, subsection 2, paragraph h, Code 6 2026, is amended by adding the following new subparagraphs: 7 NEW SUBPARAGRAPH . (01) The educational standards 8 established in section 256.11, subsections 2, 3, and 4, and 9 section 256.11, subsection 5, paragraph “j” , subparagraph (1), 10 related to instruction on nutrition. 11 NEW SUBPARAGRAPH . (3) The educational standards 12 established in section 256.11, subsection 5, paragraph “h” , 13 subparagraph (1), subparagraph division (a), related to 14 instruction relating to food production and the benefits of 15 local sourcing. 16 Sec. ___. Section 256F.4, subsection 2, Code 2026, is 17 amended by adding the following new paragraphs: 18 NEW PARAGRAPH . 0p. Be subject to and comply with the 19 requirements of section 256.11, subsections 2, 3, and 4, and 20 section 256.11, subsection 5, paragraph “j” , subparagraph (1), 21 related to instruction on nutrition in the same manner as a 22 school district. 23 NEW PARAGRAPH . w. Be subject to and comply with the 24 requirements of section 256.11, subsection 5, paragraph 25 “h” , subparagraph (1), subparagraph division (a), related to 26 instruction relating to food production and the benefits of 27 local sourcing in the same manner as a school district. 28 Sec. ___. NEW SECTION . 283A.14 Application for waiver —— 29 updated nutritional guidelines —— joint committee. 30 1. The general assembly finds and declares all of the 31 following: 32 a. The nutritional needs and cultural preferences of 33 the students in Iowa might be better served by localizing 34 nutritional standards. 35 -4- HF 2676.2961 (2) 91 ss/ko 4/ 7
b. Unique regional food sources, including corn, pork, and 1 dairy, are not adequately addressed by federal guidelines. 2 c. Flexibility in nutritional standards can enhance the 3 ability of schools to provide meals that are both nutritious 4 and appealing to students, which may increase student 5 participation in school breakfast and lunch programs. 6 2. Within ninety days after the effective date of this Act, 7 the department of education shall apply for a waiver under the 8 provisions of the federal National School Lunch Act of 1966, 42 9 U.S.C. §1751 et seq., and the federal Child Nutrition Act of 10 1966, 42 U.S.C. §1771 et seq., to request all of the following: 11 a. An exemption from sodium limits, whole grain 12 requirements, and fruit and vegetable variety stipulations in 13 school breakfast and lunch programs. 14 b. Permission to substitute or modify federal requirements 15 with state-specific nutritional guidelines that align with 16 Iowa’s dietary recommendations or cultural food practices. 17 3. If the waiver applied for by the department of 18 education under subsection 2 is granted, the department of 19 education shall adopt updated guidelines for what constitutes 20 a nutritionally adequate meal. The department shall consult 21 with the department of agriculture and land stewardship, 22 experts in nutrition, educators, parents, local farmers, and 23 other stakeholders during the process of adopting updated 24 guidelines for what constitutes a nutritionally adequate meal. 25 The guidelines for what constitutes a nutritionally adequate 26 meal may reflect local preferences, regional food sources, 27 including corn, pork, and dairy, and cultural considerations. 28 The guidelines for what constitutes a nutritionally adequate 29 meal must satisfy all of the following requirements: 30 a. Be at least as stringent in promoting health and 31 preventing chronic diseases as the federal guidelines. 32 b. Maintain a commitment to nutritional health and student 33 well-being. 34 c. Prioritize the following food groups, in the order 35 -5- HF 2676.2961 (2) 91 ss/ko 5/ 7
listed: 1 (1) Animal-based protein, including but not limited to 2 beef, pork, poultry, fish, and eggs. 3 (2) Dairy products, including but not limited to milk, 4 cheese, and yogurt. 5 (3) Vegetables, including but not limited to local and 6 seasonal produce. 7 (4) Fresh fruit or dried or frozen fruit when fresh fruit is 8 not seasonally available. 9 4. If the waiver applied for by the department of education 10 under subsection 2 is granted, the department of education 11 and the department of agriculture and land stewardship shall 12 establish a joint committee to do all of the following: 13 a. Oversee the implementation of the guidelines for what 14 constitutes a nutritionally adequate meal. 15 b. Review the outcomes associated with the guidelines for 16 what constitutes a nutritionally adequate meal. 17 c. Study the nutritional science associated with the 18 guidelines for what constitutes a nutritionally adequate meal 19 and seek feedback from schools, parents, and agricultural 20 stakeholders related to the guidelines. 21 d. Provide recommendations to the department of education 22 related to changes that may need to be made to the guidelines 23 for what constitutes a nutritionally adequate meal. 24 5. If the waiver applied for by the department of 25 education under subsection 2 is granted, the department of 26 education shall submit to the general assembly an annual 27 report, beginning on or before the first June 30 after 28 the implementation of the new guidelines, which describes 29 the impact of the guidelines related to what constitutes a 30 nutritionally adequate meal, including information related 31 to school breakfast and lunch program participation, student 32 health outcomes, feedback from school districts, progress 33 in implementing the guidelines, challenges associated with 34 implementing the guidelines, and recommendations for further 35 -6- HF 2676.2961 (2) 91 ss/ko 6/ 7
enhancement of the guidelines. 1 6. If the waiver applied for by the department of education 2 under subsection 2 is granted, the department of education 3 shall conduct an evaluation to assess the effectiveness of the 4 guidelines for what constitutes a nutritionally adequate meal 5 compared to the comparable federal standards within five years 6 after the effective date of the waiver. 7 Sec. ___. EFFECTIVE DATE. The following, being deemed of 8 immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment: 9 The section of this division of this Act enacting section 10 283A.14. 11 Sec. ___. APPLICABILITY. The following apply to school 12 years beginning on or after July 1, 2027: 13 1. The section of this division of this Act amending section 14 256.11, subsections 2, 3, and 4. 15 2. The section of this division of this Act amending 16 section 256.11, subsection 5, paragraph “h”, subparagraph (1), 17 subparagraph division (a). 18 3. The section of this division of this Act amending section 19 256.11, subsection 5, paragraph “j”, subparagraph (1). 20 4. The section of this division of this Act amending section 21 256E.7, subsection 2, paragraph “h”. 22 5. The section of this division of this Act amending section 23 256F.4, subsection 2. > 24 2. Title page, line 2, after < medication, > by inserting < and 25 education, > 26 3. By renumbering as necessary. 27 ______________________________ WULF of Black Hawk -7- HF 2676.2961 (2) 91 ss/ko 7/ 7 #2. #3.