SF 2063 (LSB 5247XS (1) 91)

SENATE FILE 2063

BY  SALMON

A BILL FOR

An Act prohibiting courses and content relating to diversity, equity, inclusion, and critical race theory in general education requirements and core curricula at regents institutions.
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 “Stop Woke Act”.
    Sec. 2.  NEW SECTION.  262.100  Standards for undergraduate general education courses.
   1.  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
   a.  “Diversity, equity, inclusion, and critical race theory-related content” means content that does one or more of the following:
   (1)  Promotes the idea that racially neutral or colorblind laws, policies, or institutions perpetuate oppression; injustice; race-based privilege, including white supremacy or white privilege; or inequity by failing to actively differentiate on the basis of race, sex, or gender.
   (2)  Promotes the differential treatment of any individual or groups of individuals based on race or ethnicity in contemporary American society.
   (3)  Promotes the idea that a student is biased on account of the student’s race or sex.
   (4)  Relates any of the following topics to contemporary American society: critical theory, whiteness, systemic racism, institutional racism, antiracism, microaggressions, systemic bias, implicit bias, unconscious bias, intersectionality, gender identity, social justice, cultural competence, allyship, race-based reparations, race-based privilege, race-based or gender-based diversity, race-based or gender-based equity, or race-based or gender-based inclusion.
   b.  “Diversity, equity, inclusion, and critical race theory-related course or course requirements” means any course for which the course description, course overview, course objectives, proposed student learning outcomes, written examinations, written or oral assignments for which the student will receive a grade, or other course requirements include diversity, equity, inclusion, and critical race theory-related content, or any other course requirement that includes such content.
   2.  The state board of regents shall establish a policy that prohibits diversity, equity, inclusion, and critical race theory-related courses or course requirements from being included in any undergraduate general education requirement or core curriculum at institutions of higher education governed by the board.
    Sec. 3.  REVIEW OF UNDERGRADUATE GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS AND CORE CURRICULA.  No later than December 31, 2026, the board of regents shall conduct a review of all undergraduate general education requirements and core curricula at institutions of higher education governed by the board and direct the institutions to remove any required courses or course requirements that include diversity, equity, inclusion, and critical race theory-related content from the undergraduate general education requirements and core curricula.
    Sec. 4.  ESTABLISHMENT OF POLICIES —— DATE.  The board of regents shall establish all policies required by this Act no later than December 31, 2026.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill requires the state board of regents (board) to establish a policy that prohibits diversity, equity, inclusion, and critical race theory-related courses or course requirements, as defined in the bill, from being included in any undergraduate general education requirement or core curriculum at institutions of higher education governed by the board (institutions).
   The bill requires the board to establish all policies required by the bill no later than December 31, 2026.
   The bill requires the board, no later than December 31, 2026, to conduct a review of all undergraduate general education requirements and core curricula at institutions and direct the institutions to remove any required courses or course requirements that include diversity, equity, inclusion, and critical race theory-related content from the undergraduate general education requirements and core curricula.