HSB 547 (LSB 5036YC (5) 91)

HOUSE FILE _____ 

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION BILL BY CHAIRPERSON COLLINS)

A BILL FOR

An Act regarding student admission factors to regents universities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  SHORT TITLE.  This Act shall be known and may be cited as the “Admissions Reform Act”.
    Sec. 2.  Section 262.9, subsection 3, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   3.  Make rules for admission to and for the government of said institutions, not inconsistent with law.  The rules shall require the institutions of higher learning under its control to accept the classic learning test, developed by classic learning initiatives, into the regent admission index as an additional standardized test option, in addition to the college readiness assessment administered by ACT, inc., and the college readiness assessment administered by the college board, for purposes of calculating the regent admission index score prior to the beginning of the 2026-2027 academic year.
    Sec. 3.  Section 262.9, Code 2026, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  43.  By December 31, 2026, develop and adopt a policy ensuring that only merit and the likelihood of employment in Iowa after graduation are considered in admission determination for students who do not qualify under the regent admission index.
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 student admission in regents universities. The bill directs the state board of regents to adopt a policy ensuring only the factors of merit and likelihood to work in Iowa post-graduation are considered in admission determination for students who do not qualify under the regent admission index (RAI). The RAI is part of the admission requirements for Iowa high school students applying to regents universities. The RAI combines the following factors: ACT or SAT test score, high school cumulative grade-point average, and the number of completed high school core courses to predict success at regents universities. For students who do not qualify under the RAI, the bill provides that the only factors universities can utilize in making admission determinations of these students are merit and likelihood of employment in Iowa after graduation. The state board shall adopt the policy by December 31, 2026.
   The bill further directs the state board of regents to accept the classic learning test into the RAI as an additional standardized test option, in addition to the college readiness assessments administered by ACT, inc., and the college board, respectively the ACT and SAT, for purposes of calculating the RAI score prior to the beginning of the 2026-2027 academic year. The classic learning test is an online college entrance exam.