HSB 32 (LSB 1996YC (1) 91)

HOUSE FILE _____ 

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION BILL BY CHAIRPERSON WHEELER)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to public schools, including requiring public schools to display the national motto and the state motto and to start each day of classroom instruction with silent time.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 256E.7, subsection 2, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  0r.  Be subject to and comply with the requirements of section 279.87 relating to the display of the national motto and the state motto in the same manner as a school district.
    Sec. 2.  Section 256E.7, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  6A.  A charter school shall start each day of classroom instruction by allowing students two minutes of silent time.
    Sec. 3.  Section 256F.4, subsection 2, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  r.  Be subject to and comply with the requirements of section 279.87 relating to the display of the national motto and the state motto in the same manner as a school district.
    Sec. 4.  Section 256F.4, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  5A.  A charter school or innovation zone school shall start each day of classroom instruction by allowing students two minutes of silent time.
    Sec. 5.  NEW SECTION.  279.87  Display of national motto and state motto.
   The board of directors of a school district shall display the national motto of the United States, established under 36 U.S.C. §302, and the state motto of Iowa, established under section 1A.1, in the main entryway of each attendance center in the school district or in another location within an attendance center if the board of directors of the school district determines that such location is more visible to students.
    Sec. 6.  Section 280.5, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   280.5  Display of United States flag and Iowa state flag —— silent time —— pledge of allegiance.
   1.  The board of directors of each public school district and the authorities in charge of each nonpublic school shall provide and maintain a suitable flagstaff on each school site under its control, and the United States flag and the Iowa state flag shall be raised on all school days when weather conditions are suitable.
   2.  The board of directors of each public school district shall administer the pledge of allegiance in grades one through twelve each school day.  Immediately prior to the recitation of the pledge of allegiance, each student shall be allowed two minutes of silent time. Each classroom in which the pledge of allegiance is recited pursuant to this subsection shall display the United States flag during the recitation. A student shall not be compelled against the student’s objections or those of the student’s parent or guardian to recite the pledge.
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 public schools, including requiring public schools to display the national motto and the state motto and to start each day of classroom instruction with silent time.
   The bill requires school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to display the national motto of the United States and the state motto of Iowa in the main entryway of each attendance center or in another location within an attendance center if the school determines that such location is more visible to students.
   Current law requires school districts to administer the pledge of allegiance in grades 1 through 12 each day. The bill provides that, immediately prior to the recitation of the pledge of allegiance, each student shall be allowed two minutes of silent time. The bill also requires charter schools and innovation zone schools to start each day of classroom instruction by allowing students two minutes of silent time.