HF 2469 (LSB 5532YH (5) 90)

HOUSE FILE 2469

BY  KURTH, AMOS JR., CAHILL, CROKEN, WILBURN, ABDUL-SAMAD, and MADISON

A BILL FOR

An Act prohibiting the use of certain names, mascots, or related materials by public and accredited nonpublic schools and including effective date provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  280.36  Prohibition of certain school names or images.
   1.  A public or nonpublic school shall not have or adopt as a representation of the school a name, nickname, or team name or a symbol, mascot, logo, letterhead, or other image that does any of the following:
   a.  Depicts or refers to Native Americans, including aspects of Native American cultures, custom, tradition, or individual or specific Native American tribes.
   b.  Denigrates or is commonly thought to be derogatory of any racial; ethnic; religious; or physical, intellectual, developmental, or learning disability group, or any culture.
   2.  a.  Subsection 1, paragraph “a”, does not apply to a school under the control of a Native American tribe and under the purview of the bureau of Indian education.
   b.  Subsection 1, paragraph “a”, does not apply if a Native American tribe has given explicit, written consent for a school to use the tribe’s name or an image relating to the tribe.
   c.  Subsection 1, paragraph “a”, shall not be construed to prohibit a Native American tribe from choosing to use a Native American-related name or a symbol, mascot, logo, letterhead, or other image for an athletic team comprised of its tribal members, including a tribal school or intramural league.
   3.  Notwithstanding subsection 1, a public school or nonpublic school may continue to use uniforms or other materials bearing a prohibited matter that were purchased before the effective date of this Act if all of the following requirements are met:
   a.  The school selected a replacement for the prohibited material before the effective date of this Act.
   b.  The school does not purchase or acquire, for the purpose of distribution or sale to students or school employees, any uniform that includes or bears the prohibited material on or after the effective date of this Act.
   c.  The school does not purchase or acquire, for the purpose of distribution or sale to students or school employees, any yearbook, newspaper, program, or other similar material that includes or bears the prohibited material in its logo, cover, or title on or after the effective date of this Act.
   d.  The school does not purchase or construct a marquee, sign, or other new or replacement fixture that includes or bears the prohibited material on or after the effective date of this Act, and removes such material from existing fixtures by the effective date of this Act.
    Sec. 2.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act takes effect July 1, 2025.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill prohibits a public or accredited nonpublic school from having or adopting as a representation of the school a name, nickname, or team name or a symbol, mascot, logo, letterhead, or other image that depicts or refers to Native Americans, including aspects of Native American cultures, custom, tradition, or individual or specific Native American tribes. The bill specifies exceptions to this prohibition. The bill also prohibits a public or accredited nonpublic school from having or adopting as a representation of the school a name, nickname, or team name or a symbol, mascot, logo, letterhead, or other image that denigrates or is commonly thought to be derogatory of any racial; ethnic; religious; or physical, intellectual, developmental, or learning disability group, or any culture.
   A public school or nonpublic school may continue to use uniforms or other materials bearing a prohibited matter that were purchased before July 1, 2025, if specified requirements are met.
   The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.