House Study Bill 594 - Introduced HOUSE FILE _____ BY (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION BILL BY CHAIRPERSON WHEELER) A BILL FOR An Act relating to social studies instruction, including 1 instruction in United States government, provided to 2 students enrolled in grades nine through twelve, and 3 including applicability provisions. 4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 5 TLSB 5664YC (2) 91 jda/jh
H.F. _____ Section 1. Section 256.11, subsection 5, paragraph b, Code 1 2026, is amended to read as follows: 2 b. (1) Five units of the social studies including 3 instruction in voting statutes and procedures, voter 4 registration requirements, the use of paper ballots and voting 5 systems in the election process, and the method of acquiring 6 and casting an absentee ballot. All students shall complete a 7 minimum of one-half one unit of United States government and 8 one unit of United States history. 9 (2) The one-half one unit of United States government shall 10 include the all of the following: 11 (a) The voting procedure as described in this lettered 12 paragraph and section 280.9A . The government instruction shall 13 also include a 14 (b) A study of the Constitution of the United States and the 15 Bill of Rights contained in the Constitution and an assessment 16 of a student’s knowledge of the Constitution and the Bill of 17 Rights. 18 Sec. 2. Section 256E.7, subsection 2, paragraph h, Code 19 2026, is amended by adding the following new subparagraph: 20 NEW SUBPARAGRAPH . (03) The educational standards 21 established in section 256.11, subsection 5, paragraph “b” , 22 related to United States government instruction. 23 Sec. 3. Section 256F.4, subsection 2, Code 2026, is amended 24 by adding the following new paragraph: 25 NEW PARAGRAPH . 0r. Be subject to and comply with the 26 requirements of section 256.11, subsection 5, paragraph “b” , 27 relating to United States government instruction in the same 28 manner as a school district. 29 Sec. 4. APPLICABILITY. This Act applies to school years 30 beginning on or after July 1, 2028. 31 EXPLANATION 32 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 33 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 34 This bill relates to social studies instruction, including 35 -1- LSB 5664YC (2) 91 jda/jh 1/ 2
H.F. _____ instruction in United States government. The bill requires 1 school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter 2 schools, and innovation zone schools to offer and teach one 3 unit of United States government instruction as part of the 4 required five units of social studies instruction in grades 9 5 through 12. The bill applies to school years beginning on or 6 after July 1, 2028. 7 Under current law, school districts and accredited nonpublic 8 schools are required to offer and teach one-half unit of United 9 States government instruction as part of the required five 10 units of social studies instruction in grades 9 through 12. 11 -2- LSB 5664YC (2) 91 jda/jh 2/ 2