House File 855 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 855 BY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION (SUCCESSOR TO HSB 61) A BILL FOR An Act prohibiting community colleges from establishing 1 diversity, equity, and inclusion offices and engaging in 2 certain other activities relating to diversity, equity, and 3 inclusion. 4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 5 TLSB 1433HV (1) 91 je/jh

H.F. 855 Section 1. Section 261J.1, subsection 3, as enacted by 1 2024 Iowa Acts, chapter 1152, section 31, is amended to read 2 as follows: 3 3. “Public institution of higher education” means an 4 institution of higher learning governed by the state board of 5 regents or a community college . 6 EXPLANATION 7 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 8 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 9 This bill provides that a public institution of higher 10 education for purposes of Code chapter 261J, relating to 11 diversity, equity, and inclusion, includes a community college. 12 Code chapter 261J generally prohibits public institutions 13 of higher education from establishing diversity, equity, and 14 inclusion offices, as defined in Code chapter 261J; requiring a 15 person to provide a diversity, equity, or inclusion statement; 16 or giving preferential treatment to any person based on the 17 provisions of such a statement. The prohibitions do not apply 18 if otherwise provided by federal or state law or accreditation 19 standards. Code chapter 261J requires annual reports to 20 the general assembly and governor on compliance by public 21 institutions of higher education and provides for enforcement 22 by the attorney general. 23 -1- LSB 1433HV (1) 91 je/jh 1/ 1