SF 2336 (LSB 5719SV (3) 91)

SENATE FILE 2336

BY  COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

(SUCCESSOR TO SSB 3095)

(COMPANION TO LSB 5719HV BY COMMITTEEE ON EDUCATION)

A BILL FOR

An Act requiring annual reports on and the prohibition of antisemitism in community colleges, regents institutions, and public school districts.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 256.7, Code 2026, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  36.  Submit to the general assembly and governor, by October 1 of each year, a report identifying each complaint or incident of antisemitism that occurred at each community college, institution of higher education under the control of the state board of regents, and public school district from the prior academic year, and the findings and outcomes of any investigations conducted, as reported by each community college, institution of higher education, and public school district. For the purposes of this subsection, “antisemitism” means the same as defined in section 216F.1.
    Sec. 2.  Section 260C.14, Code 2026, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  27.  Annually, by September 1, submit to the state board of education a report identifying each complaint or incident of antisemitism that occurred at the community college from the prior academic year, and the findings and outcomes of any investigations conducted. For purposes of this subsection, “antisemitism” means the same as defined in section 216F.1.
    Sec. 3.  NEW SECTION.  260C.51  Antisemitism —— discrimination prohibited.
   1.  Each community college shall prohibit antisemitism. Each community college shall treat harassment or discrimination by an employee or student that is motivated by or includes antisemitic intent, or harassment or discrimination against an employee or student that is a result of the community college’s policies and programs, in the same manner as any other form of discrimination prohibited by federal or state law.
   2.  Each community college shall integrate into the community college’s codes of conduct for students, faculty, and other employees a policy prohibiting conduct that relates to antisemitism, including harassment and discrimination against Jewish people in violation of Tit. VI of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, Pub. L. No. 88-352, and any antidiscrimination regulations adopted by the federal department of education or the federal department of justice.
    Sec. 4.  Section 262.9, Code 2026, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  43.  a.  Direct the institutions of higher education under its control to prohibit antisemitism. Each institution shall treat harassment or discrimination by an employee or student that is motivated by or includes antisemitic intent, or harassment or discrimination against an employee or student that is a result of the institution’s policies and programs, in the same manner as any other form of discrimination prohibited by federal or state law.
   b.  Direct the institutions of higher education under its control to integrate into the institution’s codes of conduct for students, faculty, and other employees a policy prohibiting conduct that relates to antisemitism, including harassment and discrimination against Jewish people in violation of Tit. VI of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, Pub. L. No. 88-352, and any antidiscrimination regulations adopted by the federal department of education or the federal department of justice.
    Sec. 5.  NEW SECTION.  262.93A  Annual report on antisemitism.
   The state board of regents shall submit to the state board of education, by September 1 of each year, a report identifying each complaint or incident of antisemitism that occurred at each of the institutions of higher education under the control of the board from the prior academic year, and the findings and outcomes of any investigations conducted. The board shall conduct an annual review of the policies of the regents institutions related to antisemitic actions and speech, and provide the findings of such review in the report. For purposes of this section, “antisemitism” means the same as defined in section 216F.1.
    Sec. 6.  NEW SECTION.  279.89  Annual report on antisemitism.
   The board of directors of each public school district shall report annually to the state board of education, by September 1 of each year, a report identifying each complaint or incident of antisemitism that occurred at the school district from the prior academic year, and the findings and outcomes of any investigations conducted. For purposes of this section, “antisemitism” means the same as defined in section 216F.1.
    Sec. 7.  NEW SECTION.  279.90  Antisemitism —— discrimination prohibited.
   1.  Each school district shall prohibit antisemitism. Each school district shall treat harassment or discrimination by an employee or student that is motivated by or includes antisemitic intent, or harassment or discrimination against an employee or student that is a result of the school district’s policies and programs, in the same manner as any other form of discrimination prohibited by federal or state law.
   2.  Each school district shall integrate into the school district’s codes of conduct for students, faculty, and other employees a policy prohibiting conduct that relates to antisemitism, including harassment and discrimination against Jewish people in violation of Tit. VI of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, Pub. L. No. 88-352, and any antidiscrimination regulations adopted by the federal department of education or the federal department of justice.
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 annual reports on, and the prohibition of, antisemitism. The bill requires the state board of education to submit an annual report to the general assembly and governor by October 1 of each year, identifying each complaint or incident of antisemitism that occurred during the prior academic year at each community college, institution of higher education under the control of the state board of regents, and public school district. The bill requires the report to include the findings and outcomes of any investigations conducted. The bill requires the board of directors of each community college, the state board of regents, and the board of directors of each public school district to submit a report to the state board of education by September 1 of each year identifying each complaint or incident of antisemitism that occurred during the prior academic year at the respective institution for use in the state board of education’s annual report.
   The bill also requires the state board of regents to conduct an annual review of policies related to antisemitic actions and speech at regents institutions, and to include such findings in the report.
   The bill further requires the board of directors of each community college, the state board of regents, and the board of directors of each public school district to prohibit antisemitism and treat harassment or discrimination by an employee or student that is motivated by or includes antisemitic intent, or harassment or discrimination against an employee or student that is the result of the community college, regent institution, or school district’s policies and programs, in the same manner as any other form of discrimination prohibited by state and federal law.
   The bill requires the board of directors of each community college, the state board of regents, and the board of directors of each public school district to integrate a policy prohibiting conduct that relates to antisemitism, including harassment and discrimination against Jewish people in violation of Tit. VI of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, and any antidiscrimination regulations adopted by the federal department of education or the federal department of justice into each community college, regent institution, and school district’s codes of conduct.