House File 2286 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 2286 BY STAED , BAGNIEWSKI , CROKEN , WILSON , AMOS JR. , KURTH , STECKMAN , MATSON , MADISON , BROWN-POWERS , GAINES , and ABDUL-SAMAD A BILL FOR An Act requiring boards of directors of school districts 1 to adopt policies related to excusing the absences of 2 students enrolled in grades nine through twelve for civic or 3 political events. 4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 5 TLSB 5942YH (3) 90 jda/jh

H.F. 2286 Section 1. Section 299.1, Code 2024, is amended by adding 1 the following new subsection: 2 NEW SUBSECTION . 3. a. The board of directors of each 3 public school district shall adopt a policy that requires the 4 school district to grant a student who is enrolled in grades 5 nine through twelve at least one excused absence each school 6 year when the student is absent from school because of the 7 student’s participation in a civic or political event. The 8 policy shall require all of the following: 9 (1) The board of directors of the school district shall 10 not grant the student an excused absence to participate in the 11 civic or political event unless the student gives notice of the 12 student’s intent to participate in the civic or political event 13 to an administrator employed by the school district in advance 14 of the civic or political event. 15 (2) The student shall demonstrate the student’s knowledge 16 of the civic or political event in which the student 17 participated by preparing a short essay, presenting information 18 related to the civic or political event, or through any 19 other means the school determines will demonstrate a proper 20 representation of what the student learned during the civic or 21 political event. 22 b. For purposes of this subsection, “civic or political 23 event” means all of the following: 24 (1) Voting in an election. 25 (2) Serving as a poll worker. 26 (3) Participating in a strike. 27 (4) Participating in a public comment period before any 28 public body. 29 (5) Attending a speech by a candidate for a public office. 30 (6) Attending a political forum. 31 (7) Attending a civic forum. 32 (8) Attending a town hall meeting. 33 EXPLANATION 34 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 35 -1- LSB 5942YH (3) 90 jda/jh 1/ 2

H.F. 2286 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 1 This bill requires boards of directors of school districts 2 to adopt policies related to excusing the absences of students 3 enrolled in grades 9 through 12 for civic or political events. 4 The bill requires the board of directors of each public 5 school district to adopt a policy that requires the school 6 district to grant a student who is enrolled in grades 9 7 through 12 at least one excused absence each school year when 8 the student is absent from school because of the student’s 9 participation in a civic or political event. The bill 10 establishes that such policy is to include a requirement that 11 the student give notice of the student’s intent to participate 12 in the civic or political event in advance and a requirement 13 that the student demonstrate what the student learned during 14 the student’s participation in the civic or political event. 15 The bill defines “civic or political event” to mean voting 16 in an election, serving as a poll worker, participating in a 17 strike, participating in a public comment period before any 18 public body, attending a speech by a candidate for a public 19 office, attending a political forum, attending a civic forum, 20 or attending a town hall meeting. 21 -2- LSB 5942YH (3) 90 jda/jh 2/ 2