HF 2361 (LSB 5245HV (2) 91)

HOUSE FILE 2361

BY  COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

(SUCCESSOR TO HSB 543)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to general education requirements, core curricula, other functions of regents institutions, and including applicability provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

DIVISION I
SHORT TITLE

    Section 1.  SHORT TITLE.  This Act shall be known and may be cited as the “Increasing Civic Proficiency in Higher Education Act”.
DIVISION II
REGENTS INSTITUTIONS —— GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS AND CORE CURRICULA —— COURSES ON AMERICAN HISTORY AND AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

    Sec. 2.  NEW SECTION.  262.100  General education requirements and core curricula —— courses on American history and American government.
   1.  The state board of regents shall require each institution of higher education governed by the board to establish as a requirement for the completion of any general education requirements or core curricula that an undergraduate student complete an introductory survey course in American history and an introductory survey course in American government. An institution shall assign a value of at least three semester hours of credit to each course. A course required by this section shall be a comprehensive survey of all American history and American government.
   2.  A course required by this section shall fulfill the general education or core curriculum requirement for social sciences or humanities, as designated by the institution, that a student is required to complete as a condition of graduation.
   3.  An institution shall provide equivalent credit toward the courses required by this section to a student transferring to the institution for previous coursework completed by the student that is substantially similar to a required course.
   4.  This section does not apply to a student completing a degree program designated by an institution as a degree program of three years or less in duration.
   5.  Annually, the center for intellectual freedom at the state university of Iowa, the center for cyclone civics at the Iowa state university of science and technology, and the center for civic education at the university of northern Iowa shall designate courses at their respective institutions that satisfy the requirements of this section.
    Sec. 3.  Section 263C.3, subsection 5, Code 2026, is amended by striking the subsection.
    Sec. 4.  REVIEW OF GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS AND CORE CURRICULA.  No later than December 31, 2026, the board of regents shall conduct a review of all undergraduate general education requirements and core curricula at institutions of higher education governed by the board.
    Sec. 5.  APPLICABILITY.  The section of this Act enacting section 262.100 applies to undergraduate students beginning enrollment at institutions of higher education governed by the board of regents in academic years beginning on or after July 1, 2028.
DIVISION III
LECTURE AND DEBATE SERIES

    Sec. 6.  NEW SECTION.  262.105  Lecture and debate series.
   By December 31, 2026, the center for intellectual freedom at the state university of Iowa, the center for cyclone civics at the Iowa state university of science and technology, and the center for civic education at the university of northern Iowa shall each establish an ongoing lecture and debate series. The series must promote civil dialogue and debate on the issues most important to the American republic.
DIVISION IV
CENTERS —— ANNUAL REPORTS

    Sec. 7.  NEW SECTION.  266.8  Annual report —— center for cyclone civics.
   The director of the center for cyclone civics at the Iowa state university of science and technology shall submit an annual report to the governor, the general assembly, and the state board of regents by December 31. The report must provide a full account of the center’s achievements and must identify any opportunities, challenges, and obstacles in the development of the center.
    Sec. 8.  NEW SECTION.  268.6  Annual report —— center for civic education.
   The director of the center for civic education at the university of northern Iowa shall submit an annual report to the governor, the general assembly, and the state board of regents by December 31. The report must provide a full account of the center’s achievements and must identify any opportunities, challenges, and obstacles in the development of the center.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to general education requirements, core curricula, and other functions of regents institutions.
   REGENTS INSTITUTIONS —— GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS AND CORE CURRICULA —— COURSES ON AMERICAN HISTORY AND AMERICAN GOVERNMENT. This division provides that the state board of regents (board) must require each institution to establish as a requirement for the completion of any general education requirements or core curricula that an undergraduate student complete introductory survey courses in American history and American government. The requirement applies to undergraduate students beginning enrollment at institutions in academic years beginning on or after July 1, 2028. An institution shall assign a value of at least three semester hours of credit to each course. A required course shall be a comprehensive survey of all American history and American government.
   A required course shall fulfill the general education or core curriculum requirement for social sciences or humanities, as designated by the institution, that a student is required to complete as a condition of graduation.
   The division requires an institution to provide equivalent credit toward the required courses to a student transferring to the institution for previous substantially similar coursework.
   The division does not apply to a student completing a degree program designated by an institution as a degree program of three years or less in duration.
   The division requires the center for intellectual freedom at the university of Iowa, the center for cyclone civics at Iowa state university, and the center for civic education at the university of northern Iowa to annually designate courses at their respective institutions that satisfy these requirements.
   The division strikes a requirement that the center for intellectual freedom at the university of Iowa offer at least one three-semester credit hour course in American history and civil government.
   The division requires the board to conduct a review of all undergraduate general education requirements and core curricula at institutions no later than December 31, 2026.
   LECTURE AND DEBATE SERIES. This division requires the center for intellectual freedom at the university of Iowa, the center for cyclone civics at Iowa state university, and the center for civic education at the university of northern Iowa to each establish an ongoing lecture and debate series by December 31, 2026. The series must promote civil dialogue and debate on the issues most important to the American republic.
   CENTERS —— ANNUAL REPORTS. This division requires the directors of the center for cyclone civics at Iowa state university and the center for civic education at the university of northern Iowa to each submit an annual report to the governor, the general assembly, and the board of regents by December 31. The report must provide a full account of the respective center’s achievements and identify any opportunities, challenges, and obstacles in the development of the center.