HF 402 (LSB 2236YH (1) 90)

HOUSE FILE 402

BY  KURTH

A BILL FOR

An Act prohibiting certain mascots in schools, and including effective date provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  280.33  Prohibition of certain mascots.
   A public or nonpublic school shall not have or adopt a name, symbol, or image that depicts or refers to any of the following:
   1.  a.  A Native American tribe, individual, custom, or tradition to be used as a mascot, nickname, logo, letterhead, or team name of the school.
   b.  Paragraph “a” shall not apply to a school under the control of a Native American tribe and under the purview of the bureau of Indian education.
   2.  A term that is commonly thought to be derogatory of a specific group or culture.
    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 nonpublic school from having or adopting a name, symbol, or image that depicts or refers to a term that is commonly thought to be derogatory of a specific group or culture or a Native American tribe, individual, custom, or tradition to be used as a mascot, nickname, logo, letterhead, or team name of the school. The prohibition on Native American mascots does not apply to a school under the control of a Native American tribe and under the purview of the bureau of Indian education.
   The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.