House Study Bill 682 - Introduced HOUSE FILE _____ BY (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION BILL BY CHAIRPERSON WHEELER) A BILL FOR An Act relating to the revocation or denial of educator 1 licenses and certificates for publicly celebrating 2 assassinations or acts of politically motivated violence, 3 and including effective date and retroactive applicability 4 provisions. 5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 6 TLSB 5408YC (5) 91 jda/jh

H.F. _____ Section 1. Section 256.146, Code 2026, is amended by adding 1 the following new subsections: 2 NEW SUBSECTION . 28. a. Adopt rules pursuant to chapter 3 17A that require the board to disqualify an applicant for a 4 license or certificate, or to revoke the license or certificate 5 of a person, for publicly celebrating any act of politically 6 motivated violence, including the unlawful killing of Charles 7 J. Kirk, in a manner that satisfies any of the following 8 criteria: 9 (1) Demonstrates moral turpitude or unfitness to teach or 10 serve in a position of trust with children. 11 (2) Creates a substantial likelihood of material and 12 substantial disruption to the learning environment. 13 (3) Undermines public confidence in the integrity of the 14 education profession. 15 b. A single verified instance of celebrating an act 16 of politically motivated violence, including the unlawful 17 killing of Charles J. Kirk, whether on social media, in 18 public statements, or in any medium accessible to students 19 or the public, shall constitute sufficient grounds for such 20 disqualification or revocation. 21 c. The rules must require the board to initiate revocation 22 proceedings upon receipt of credible evidence that a person 23 holding a license or certificate publicly celebrated an act of 24 politically motivated violence, including the unlawful killing 25 of Charles J. Kirk. 26 d. As used in this subsection: 27 (1) “Celebrate” means to publicly express approval, joy, 28 satisfaction, or glee regarding an act of politically motivated 29 violence, including the unlawful killing of Charles J. Kirk. 30 “Celebrate” includes but is not limited to stating any of the 31 following on social media, in public statements, or in any 32 medium accessible to students or to the public: 33 (a) Good riddance. 34 (b) One less fascist. 35 -1- LSB 5408YC (5) 91 jda/jh 1/ 3

H.F. _____ (c) He deserved it. 1 (d) Any statement that is substantially similar to the 2 statements in subparagraph divisions (a) through (c) and 3 that endorses or rejoices in an act of politically motivated 4 violence, including the unlawful killing of Charles J. Kirk. 5 (2) “Credible evidence” includes but is not limited to all 6 of the following: 7 (a) Screenshots. 8 (b) Videos. 9 (c) Sworn complaints. 10 NEW SUBSECTION . 29. a. The board shall adopt rules 11 pursuant to chapter 17A that prohibit the board from revoking, 12 suspending, or denying a license, certificate, authorization, 13 or statement of recognition issued by the board solely on the 14 basis of a person’s or applicant’s expression of any of the 15 following: 16 (1) Speech that is protected by the first amendment to the 17 Constitution of the United States, including political speech. 18 (2) A religious, political, or ideological viewpoint. 19 b. This subsection shall not be construed to prohibit 20 the board from disqualifying an applicant for a license or 21 certificate, or from revoking the license or certificate of a 22 person, pursuant to subsection 28. 23 Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act, being deemed of immediate 24 importance, takes effect upon enactment. 25 Sec. 3. RETROACTIVE APPLICABILITY. The following applies 26 retroactively to September 10, 2025: 27 The portion of the section of this Act enacting section 28 256.146, subsection 28. 29 EXPLANATION 30 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 31 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 32 This bill relates to the revocation or denial of 33 educator licenses and certificates for publicly celebrating 34 assassinations or acts of politically motivated violence. 35 -2- LSB 5408YC (5) 91 jda/jh 2/ 3

H.F. _____ The bill requires the board of educational examiners (BOEE) 1 to disqualify an applicant for a license or certificate, 2 and to revoke the license or certificate of a person, for 3 publicly celebrating any act of politically motivated violence, 4 including the unlawful killing of Charles J. Kirk, in a 5 manner that demonstrates moral turpitude or unfitness to teach 6 or serve in a position of trust with children; creates a 7 substantial likelihood of material and substantial disruption 8 to the learning environment; or undermines public confidence in 9 the integrity of the education profession. A single verified 10 instance of celebrating an act of politically motivated 11 violence, including the unlawful killing of Charles J. Kirk, 12 whether on social media, in public statements, or in any 13 medium accessible to students or the public, shall constitute 14 sufficient grounds for such disqualification or revocation. 15 The BOEE is required to initiate revocation proceedings upon 16 receipt of credible evidence that a person holding a license or 17 certificate publicly celebrated an act of politically motivated 18 violence, including the unlawful killing of Charles J. Kirk. 19 The bill defines “celebrate” and “credible evidence”. This 20 provision applies retroactively to September 10, 2025. 21 The bill prohibits the BOEE from revoking, suspending, or 22 denying a license, certificate, authorization, or statement 23 of recognition issued by the BOEE solely on the basis of a 24 person’s or applicant’s expression of speech that is protected 25 by the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States 26 or a religious, political, or ideological viewpoint. The 27 bill provides that this provision shall not be construed to 28 prohibit the BOEE from disqualifying an applicant for a license 29 or certificate, or from revoking the license or certificate 30 of a person, for publicly celebrating an act of politically 31 motivated violence, including the unlawful killing of Charles 32 J. Kirk. 33 The bill is effective upon enactment. 34 -3- LSB 5408YC (5) 91 jda/jh 3/ 3