HSB 84 (LSB 1364YC (3) 91)

HOUSE FILE _____ 

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION BILL BY CHAIRPERSON WHEELER)

A BILL FOR

An Act prohibiting school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools from providing any program, curriculum, test, survey, questionnaire, promotion, or instruction relating to gender identity or sexual orientation to students in grades seven through twelve.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 256.11, subsection 4, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   4.  The following shall be taught in grades seven and eight:  English-language arts; social studies, including instruction related to civics; mathematics; science; subject to section 279.80, health; subject to section 279.80, age-appropriate and research-based human growth and development; career exploration and development; physical education; music; and visual art. Computer science instruction incorporating the standards established under section 256.7, subsection 26, paragraph “a”, subparagraph (4), shall be offered in at least one grade level commencing with the school year beginning July 1, 2023. Career exploration and development shall be designed so that students are appropriately prepared to create an individual career and academic plan pursuant to section 279.61, incorporate foundational career and technical education concepts aligned with the six career and technical education service areas as defined in  subsection 5, paragraph “h”, incorporate relevant twenty-first century skills to facilitate career readiness, and introduce students to career opportunities within the local community and across this state. The health curriculum shall include age-appropriate and research-based information regarding the characteristics of sexually transmitted diseases. The state board as part of accreditation standards shall adopt curriculum definitions for implementing the program in grades seven and eight. However, this subsection shall not apply to the teaching of career exploration and development in nonpublic schools.
    Sec. 2.  Section 256.11, subsection 5, paragraph j, subparagraph (1), Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   (1)  One unit of health education which may include personal health; food and nutrition; environmental health; safety and survival skills; consumer health; family life; subject to section 279.80, age-appropriate and research-based human growth and development; substance use disorder and nonuse; emotional and social health; health resources; cardiopulmonary resuscitation; and prevention and control of disease, including age-appropriate and research-based information regarding sexually transmitted diseases.
    Sec. 3.  Section 256E.7, subsection 2, paragraph p, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   p.  Be subject to and comply with the requirements of section 279.80 relating to sexual orientation and gender identity instruction in kindergarten through grade six twelve in the same manner as a school district.
    Sec. 4.  Section 256F.4, subsection 2, paragraph n, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   n.  Be subject to and comply with the requirements of section 279.80 relating to sexual orientation and gender identity instruction in kindergarten through grade six twelve in the same manner as a school district.
    Sec. 5.  Section 279.50, subsection 3, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   3.  Each Subject to section 279.80, each school board shall provide age-appropriate and research-based instruction in human growth and development including instruction regarding human sexuality, self-esteem, stress management, interpersonal relationships, domestic abuse, and the prevention and control of disease, including sexually transmitted diseases as required in section 256.11, in grades seven through twelve.
    Sec. 6.  Section 279.80, subsection 2, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   2.  A school district shall not provide any program, curriculum, test, survey, questionnaire, promotion, or instruction relating to gender identity or sexual orientation to students in kindergarten through grade six twelve.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill prohibits school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools from providing any program, curriculum, test, survey, questionnaire, promotion, or instruction relating to gender identity or sexual orientation to students in grades 7 through 12, extending the current prohibition that applies to such students in kindergarten through grade 6.