SF 2482 (LSB 5012SV (1) 91)

SENATE FILE 2482

BY  COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

(SUCCESSOR TO SSB 3191)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to and making appropriations to the education system, including the funding and operation of the department for the blind, department of education, and state board of regents.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

DIVISION I
FY 2026-2027 APPROPRIATIONS —— DEPARTMENT FOR THE BLIND

    Section 1.  GENERAL FUND APPROPRIATIONS —— ADMINISTRATION.  There is appropriated from the general fund of the state to the department for the blind for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027, the following amount, or so much thereof as is necessary, to be used for the purposes designated:
   For salaries, support, maintenance, and miscellaneous purposes:
   ...................................................................... $  3,207,190
DIVISION II
FY 2026-2027 APPROPRIATIONS —— DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

    Sec. 2.  GENERAL FUND APPROPRIATIONS.  There is appropriated from the general fund of the state to the department of education for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027, the following amounts, or so much thereof as is necessary, to be used for the purposes designated:
   1.  GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
   For salaries, support, maintenance, and miscellaneous purposes:
   ...................................................................... $  7,073,808

   2.  CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION
   For salaries, support, maintenance, and miscellaneous purposes:
   ...................................................................... $    721,779

   3.  PUBLIC BROADCASTING DIVISION
   For salaries, support, maintenance, capital expenditures, and miscellaneous purposes:
   ...................................................................... $  8,165,236

   4.  CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION
   For reimbursement for career and technical education expenditures made by regional career and technical education planning partnerships in accordance with section 256.136:
   ...................................................................... $  2,952,459

   5.  SCHOOL FOOD SERVICE
   a.  For use as state matching moneys for federal programs that shall be disbursed according to federal regulations, including salaries, support, maintenance, and miscellaneous purposes:
   ...................................................................... $  2,253,055

   b.  From the moneys appropriated in this subsection, $76,258 shall be allocated to the administrative costs associated with participation in the federal summer electronic benefit transfer program.
   6.  BIRTH TO AGE THREE SERVICES
   a.  For expansion of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, Pub. L. No. 108-446, as amended to January 1, 2018, birth through age three services due to increased numbers of children qualifying for those services:
   ...................................................................... $  1,721,400

   b.  From the moneys appropriated in this subsection, $383,769 shall be allocated to the child health specialty clinics administered by the state university of Iowa in order to provide additional support for infants and toddlers who are born prematurely, drug-exposed, or medically fragile.
   7.  EARLY HEAD START PROJECTS
   a.  For early head start projects:
   ...................................................................... $    574,500

   b.  The moneys appropriated in this subsection shall be used for implementation and expansion of early head start pilot projects addressing the comprehensive cognitive, social, emotional, and developmental needs of children from birth to age three, including prenatal support for qualified families. The projects shall promote healthy prenatal outcomes and healthy family functioning, and strengthen the development of infants and toddlers in low-income families. Priority shall be given to those organizations that have previously qualified for and received state funding to administer an early head start project.
   8.  STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND TEACHER QUALITY PROGRAM
   For purposes of the student achievement and teacher quality program established pursuant to chapter 284:
   ...................................................................... $  2,990,467

   9.  STATEWIDE STUDENT ASSESSMENT
   a.  For distribution to the Iowa testing program by the department of education on behalf of school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to offset the costs associated with a statewide student assessment administered in accordance with section 256.7, subsection 21, paragraph “b”:
   ...................................................................... $  3,000,000

   b.  From the moneys appropriated in this subsection, not more than $300,000 shall be distributed to the Iowa testing programs within the state university of Iowa college of education to offset the costs of administering the statewide student assessment at accredited nonpublic schools.
   10.  STATEWIDE CLEARINGHOUSE TO EXPAND WORK-BASED LEARNING
   For support costs associated with the creation of a statewide clearinghouse to expand work-based learning as a part of the future ready Iowa initiative:
   ...................................................................... $    300,000

   11.  POSTSECONDARY SUMMER CLASSES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PROGRAM
   For support costs associated with the creation of a program to provide additional moneys for resident high school pupils enrolled in grades 9 through 12 to attend a community college for college-level classes or attend a class taught by a community college-employed instructor during the summer and outside of the regular school year through a contractual agreement between a community college and a school district under the future ready Iowa initiative:
   ...................................................................... $    600,000

   Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys received by the department pursuant to this subsection that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the close of the fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available for expenditure for the purposes specified in this subsection until the close of the succeeding fiscal year.
   12.  JOBS FOR AMERICA’S GRADUATES
   For school districts to reinforce collaborative efforts and regional initiatives that accelerate work-based learning and credential attainment, and to provide direct career education services to identified middle school or high school students enrolled in school districts through direct instruction by a jobs for America’s graduates specialist:
   ...................................................................... $  9,946,450

   Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys received by the department pursuant to this subsection that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the close of the fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available for expenditure for the purposes specified in this subsection until the close of the succeeding fiscal year.
   13.  ATTENDANCE CENTER PERFORMANCE/GENERAL INTERNET SITE AND DATA SYSTEM SUPPORT
   For administration of a process for school districts to establish specific performance goals and to evaluate the performance of each attendance center operated by the district in order to arrive at an overall school performance grade and report card for each attendance center, for internet site and data system support:
   ...................................................................... $    250,000

   14.  SUCCESSFUL PROGRESSION FOR EARLY READERS
   For distribution to school districts for implementation of section 279.68, subsection 2, relating to successful progression for early readers:
   ...................................................................... $  7,824,782

   15.  EARLY WARNING SYSTEM FOR LITERACY
   a.  For purposes of purchasing a statewide license for an early warning assessment and administering the early warning system for literacy established in accordance with section 279.68 and rules adopted in accordance with section 256.7, subsection 31:
   ...................................................................... $  1,915,000

   b.  The department shall administer and distribute to school districts and accredited nonpublic schools the early warning assessment system that allows teachers to screen and monitor student literacy skills from prekindergarten through grade six. The department may charge school districts and accredited nonpublic schools a fee for the system not to exceed the actual costs to purchase a statewide license for the early warning assessment minus the moneys received by the department under this subsection. The fee shall be determined by dividing the actual remaining costs to purchase the statewide license for the school year by the number of pupils assessed under the system in the current fiscal year. School districts may use moneys received pursuant to section 257.10, subsection 11, and moneys received for purposes of implementing section 279.68, subsection 2, to pay the early warning assessment system fee.
   16.  IOWA READING RESEARCH CENTER
   a.  For purposes of the Iowa reading research center in order to implement, in collaboration with the area education agencies, the provisions of section 256.9, subsection 49, paragraph “c”:
   ...................................................................... $  1,500,000

   b.  From moneys appropriated in this subsection, not more than $250,000 shall be used for collaborations with the state board of education relating to the approval of practitioner preparation programs pursuant to section 256.7, subsection 3, paragraph “c”, and with the board of educational examiners for the establishment and continuing oversight of the advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement pursuant to section 256.146, subsection 21. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027, the center shall submit a report to the general assembly detailing the expenditures of moneys used for purposes of this paragraph “b”.
   c.  Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys received by the department pursuant to this subsection that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the close of the fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available for expenditure for the purposes specified in this subsection until the close of the succeeding fiscal year.
   17.  COMPUTER SCIENCE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE FUND
   For deposit in the computer science professional development incentive fund established in section 284.6A:
   ...................................................................... $    500,000

   18.  CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH SCHOOL-BASED TRAINING AND SUPPORT
   a.  For distribution to area education agencies for school-based children’s mental health services, including mental health awareness training for educators:
   ...................................................................... $  1,899,682

   b.  Of the moneys appropriated in this subsection for distribution to area education agencies, $200,000 shall be used for purposes of implementing a children’s grief and loss rural pilot program to serve Iowa children in rural school districts or accredited nonpublic schools. The program shall be administered by, and the moneys allocated pursuant to this paragraph shall be distributed to, an existing statewide not-for-profit health care organization that currently provides grief and loss services to children. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027, the health care organization receiving moneys pursuant to this paragraph shall prepare a report, in collaboration with the department of education, detailing the expenditures of moneys used for the purposes of this program and its outcomes, which shall be submitted to the general assembly by September 30, 2027.
   19.  BEST BUDDIES IOWA
   a.  For school districts to create opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, and leadership development for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities:
   ...................................................................... $     35,000

   b.  The department of education shall establish criteria for the distribution of moneys appropriated under this subsection and shall require an organization receiving moneys under this subsection to annually report student identifying data for students participating in the program to the department in the manner prescribed by the department as a condition of receiving such moneys.
   20.  MIDWESTERN HIGHER EDUCATION COMPACT
   For distribution to the midwestern higher education compact to pay Iowa’s member state annual obligation:
   ...................................................................... $    118,450

   Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys appropriated pursuant to this subsection that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the close of the fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available for expenditure for the purposes designated until the close of the succeeding fiscal year.
   21.  NONPUBLIC SCHOOL CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT PAYMENTS TO COMMUNITY COLLEGES
   For payments to community colleges for the concurrent enrollment of accredited nonpublic school students under section 261E.8, subsection 2, paragraph “b”:
   ...................................................................... $  1,000,000
   Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys received by the department pursuant to this subsection that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the close of the fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available for expenditure for the purposes designated until the close of the succeeding fiscal year.
   22.  COMMUNITY COLLEGES
   For general state financial aid to merged areas, as defined in section 260C.2, in accordance with section 260C.18C:
   ...................................................................... $247,008,533

   23.  IOWA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF
   For salaries, support, maintenance, and miscellaneous purposes:
   ...................................................................... $ 12,813,313

   24.  IOWA EDUCATIONAL SERVICES FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED PROGRAM
   For salaries, support, maintenance, and miscellaneous purposes:
   ...................................................................... $  5,112,412

   25.  SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVE
   For purposes of the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) collaborative initiative established in section 256.111:
   ...................................................................... $  6,310,409

   a.  Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the moneys appropriated in this subsection shall be expended for salaries, staffing, institutional support, activities directly related to recruitment of kindergarten through grade 12 mathematics and science teachers, and for ongoing mathematics and science programming for students enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12.
   b.  From the moneys appropriated in this subsection, not less than $500,000 shall be used to provide, or support access to, all of the following:
   (1)  Technology and emerging technology education opportunities, including but not limited to artificial intelligence, computer science, data science, and related fields, to high school students and career academy students.
   (2)  Opportunities for students and instructional staff to obtain industry-recognized credentials, certifications, or other validated competencies.
   (3)  Research-based or evidence-informed instructional content and learning frameworks.
   (4)  Online or hybrid access to instructional content.
   (5)  Instructional software, platforms, tools, or resources for classroom and student use.
   (6)  Validation, certification, or credentialing of skills and competencies across a broad range of technology-related and artificial intelligence-related disciplines.
   (7)  Professional development, training, or capacity-building opportunities for teachers and instructional staff.
   (8)  Deployment, implementation, and programmatic support, including but not limited to alignment or integration with applicable academic standards or workforce needs.
   c.  Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys received by the department pursuant to this subsection that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the close of the fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available for expenditure for the purposes designated until the close of the succeeding fiscal year.
   26.  THERAPEUTIC CLASSROOM INCENTIVE FUND
   For deposit in the therapeutic classroom incentive fund established in section 256.25:
   ...................................................................... $  2,351,382

   27.  ONLINE STATE JOB POSTING SYSTEM
   For purposes of administering an online state job posting system that allows the department of education, school districts, charter schools, area education agencies, and accredited nonpublic schools to post job openings on an internet site:
   ...................................................................... $    265,000

   28.  LEAD-K PROGRAM
   For purposes of maintaining and implementing the program established pursuant to section 256.106, including ensuring statewide consistency in guidance and supports related to language and communication outcomes for children who are deaf or hard of hearing:
   ...................................................................... $    200,000

   29.  DIVISION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION
   For general supervision, oversight, compliance, employee salaries, support, maintenance, and miscellaneous purposes within the area education agency regions and the department of education main office:
   ...................................................................... $ 10,000,000

   30.  PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
   For purposes of providing required professional development to public and nonpublic schools:
   ...................................................................... $  1,676,458

   31.  COLLEGE STUDENT AID COMMISSION
   a.  Administration   For general administration salaries, support, maintenance, and miscellaneous purposes, and for the administration of the future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship program in accordance with section 256.228, including salaries, support, maintenance, and miscellaneous purposes related to the future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship program:
   ...................................................................... $    591,533

   b.  National guard service scholarship program
   For purposes of providing national guard service scholarships under the program established in section 256.210:
   ...................................................................... $  6,600,000

   c.  All Iowa opportunity scholarship program
   (1)  For deposit in the all Iowa opportunity scholarship fund created in section 256.212:
   ...................................................................... $  3,229,468

   (2)  For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, if the moneys appropriated in this lettered paragraph exceed $500,000, “eligible institution” as defined in section 256.212 shall, during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, include accredited private institutions as defined in section 256.183.
   d.  Teach Iowa scholar program
   For deposit in the teach Iowa scholar fund established in section 256.218:
   ...................................................................... $    948,715

   e.  Health care professional incentive program
   For deposit in the health care professional incentive program fund created in section 256.222:
   ...................................................................... $  7,985,911

   f.  Rural veterinarian loan repayment program
   For deposit in the rural veterinary care trust fund created in section 256.226: 
   ...................................................................... $    700,000

   g.  Future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship program
   For deposit in the future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship fund created in section 256.228:
   ...................................................................... $ 23,927,005

   h.  Future ready Iowa skilled workforce grant program
   For deposit in the future ready Iowa skilled workforce grant fund created in section 256.229:
   ...................................................................... $    425,000

   i.  Iowa workforce grant and incentive program
   For deposit in the Iowa workforce grant and incentive program fund created in section 256.230:
   ...................................................................... $  6,500,000

   j.  Court reporter equipment grant program
   For deposit in the court reporter equipment grant program fund created in section 256.231:
   ...................................................................... $     50,000
    Sec. 3.  IOWA SKILLED WORKER AND JOB CREATION FUND APPROPRIATIONS.  There is appropriated from the Iowa skilled worker and job creation fund created in section 8.57J to the department of education for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027, the following amounts, or so much thereof as is necessary, to be used for the purposes designated:
   1.  For purposes of providing skilled workforce shortage tuition grants in accordance with section 256.227: 
   ...................................................................... $  5,000,000

   2.  For deposit in the workforce training and economic development funds created pursuant to section 260C.18A:
   ...................................................................... $ 15,100,000

   From the moneys appropriated in this subsection, not more than $100,000 shall be used by the department for administration of the workforce training and economic development funds created pursuant to section 260C.18A.
   3.  a.  For capital projects at community colleges that meet the definition of the term “vertical infrastructure” in section 8.57, subsection 3, paragraph “c”:
   ...................................................................... $  6,000,000

   b.  Moneys appropriated in this subsection shall be disbursed pursuant to section 260G.6, subsection 3. Projects that qualify for moneys appropriated in this subsection must include at least one of the following:
   (1)  Accelerated career education program capital projects.
   (2)  Major renovations and major repair needs, including health, life, and fire safety needs, including compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.
   4.  For deposit in the pathways for academic career and employment fund created in section 260H.2:
   ...................................................................... $  4,800,000

   5.  For deposit in the gap tuition assistance fund established in section 260I.2:
   ...................................................................... $  2,000,000

   6.  For support costs associated with administering a workforce preparation outcome reporting system for the purpose of collecting and reporting data relating to the educational and employment outcomes of workforce preparation programs receiving moneys pursuant to this section:
   ...................................................................... $     75,000

   7.  For STEM best:
   ...................................................................... $    700,000

   Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys appropriated in this section that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the close of the fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available for expenditure for the purposes designated until the close of the succeeding fiscal year.
    Sec. 4.  CHIROPRACTIC LOAN FUNDS.  Notwithstanding section 256.204, the moneys deposited in the chiropractic loan revolving fund created in section 256.204 for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027, may be used for purposes of the chiropractic loan forgiveness program established in section 256.205.
    Sec. 5.  PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS.  The department of administrative services shall pay the Iowa school for the deaf and the Iowa educational services for the blind and visually impaired program the moneys collected from the counties during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, for expenses relating to prescription drug costs for students attending the Iowa school for the deaf and the Iowa educational services for the blind and visually impaired program.
DIVISION III
FY 2026-2027 APPROPRIATIONS —— STATE BOARD OF REGENTS

    Sec. 6.  GENERAL FUND APPROPRIATIONS.  There is appropriated from the general fund of the state to the state board of regents for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027, the following amounts, or so much thereof as is necessary, to be used for the purposes designated:
   1.  OFFICE OF STATE BOARD OF REGENTS
   a.  For salaries, support, maintenance, and miscellaneous purposes:
   ...................................................................... $    764,642

   For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027, the state board of regents shall submit a quarterly financial report to the general assembly in a format agreed upon by the state board of regents office and the legislative services agency. The report submitted for the quarter ending December 31, 2026, must include the five-year graduation rates for the regents universities.
   b.  For distribution to the western Iowa regents resource center:
   ...................................................................... $    268,297

   c.  For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027, the state board of regents and the institutions of higher learning governed by the state board of regents shall not reduce moneys budgeted for the fiscal year for the institutions’ police departments.
   d.  For allocation in equal parts by the state board of regents to the state university of Iowa, the Iowa state university of science and technology, and the university of northern Iowa to support the John Pappajohn centers for entrepreneurship:
   ...................................................................... $    125,000

   The moneys appropriated in this lettered paragraph shall be used to supplement, not supplant, any other funding received by the John Pappajohn centers for entrepreneurship.
   2.  STATE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
   a.  General university
   For salaries, support, maintenance, equipment, financial aid, and miscellaneous purposes:
   ...................................................................... $226,848,800

   b.  Oakdale campus
   For salaries, support, maintenance, and miscellaneous purposes:
   ...................................................................... $  2,103,819

   c.  State hygienic laboratory
   For salaries, support, maintenance, and miscellaneous purposes:
   ...................................................................... $  4,822,610

   d.  Family practice program
   For allocation by the dean of the college of medicine, with approval of the advisory board, to qualified participants to carry out the provisions of chapter 148D for the family practice residency education program, including salaries and support:
   ...................................................................... $  2,220,598

   e.  Child health care services
   For specialized child health care services, including childhood cancer diagnostic and treatment network programs, rural comprehensive care for hemophilia patients, and the Iowa high-risk infant follow-up program, including salaries and support:
   ...................................................................... $    634,502

   f.  Statewide cancer registry
   For the statewide cancer registry:
   ...................................................................... $    143,410

   g.  Substance abuse consortium
   For distribution to the Iowa consortium for substance abuse research and evaluation:
   ...................................................................... $     53,427

   h.  Center for biocatalysis
   For the center for biocatalysis:
   ...................................................................... $    696,342

   i.  Primary health care initiative
   For the primary health care initiative in the college of medicine:
   ...................................................................... $    624,374

   From the moneys appropriated in this lettered paragraph, $254,889 shall be allocated to the department of family practice at the state university of Iowa college of medicine for family practice faculty and support staff.
   j.  Birth defects registry
   For the birth defects registry:
   ...................................................................... $     36,839

   k.  Larned A. Waterman Iowa nonprofit resource center
   For the Larned A. Waterman Iowa nonprofit resource center:
   ...................................................................... $    156,389

   l.  Iowa online advanced placement academy science, technology, engineering, and mathematics initiative
   For the Iowa online advanced placement academy science, technology, engineering, and mathematics initiative established in section 263.8A:
   ...................................................................... $    463,616

   m.  Iowa flood center
   For the Iowa flood center for use by the university’s college of engineering pursuant to section 466C.1:
   ...................................................................... $  1,205,593

   n.  College of nursing
   For employing additional instructors in the college of nursing to increase the number of students who graduate from the college of nursing:
   ...................................................................... $  2,800,000

   o.  Center for intellectual freedom
   For purposes of supporting the center for intellectual freedom established in section 263C.2:
   ...................................................................... $  1,000,000

   3.  IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
   For salaries, support, maintenance, equipment, financial aid, and miscellaneous purposes:
   ...................................................................... $232,541,614

   4.  UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA
   a.  General university
   For salaries, support, maintenance, equipment, financial aid, and miscellaneous purposes:
   ...................................................................... $103,422,558

   b.  Real estate education program
   For purposes of the real estate education program:
   ...................................................................... $    123,523

   c.  Educators for Iowa
   For purposes of recruiting additional students to participate in educational opportunities that lead to teacher licensure:
   ...................................................................... $  1,500,000

   d.  Center for civic education
   For purposes of establishing and operating a center for civic education that promotes the values of free speech, civic leadership, public service, and citizenship, and that enhances civic education among students enrolled in colleges and universities in this state, students enrolled in prekindergarten through grade twelve in schools in this state, teachers, and the public by developing and implementing effective civic learning strategies, encouraging respectful dialogue, and offering educational resources related to free speech and civic knowledge:
   ...................................................................... $  1,000,000
    Sec. 7.  ENERGY COST-SAVINGS PROJECTS —— FINANCING.  For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027, the state board of regents may use notes, bonds, or other evidences of indebtedness issued under section 262.48 to finance projects that will result in energy cost savings in an amount that will cause the state board to recover the cost of the projects within an average of six years.
DIVISION IV
STANDING APPROPRIATIONS

    Sec. 8.  AT-RISK CHILDREN.  Notwithstanding the standing appropriation in section 279.51 for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027, the amount appropriated from the general fund of the state to the department of education for programs for at-risk children under section 279.51 shall not be more than $10,524,389. The amount of any reduction in this section shall be prorated among the programs specified in section 279.51, subsection 1, paragraphs “a”, “b”, and “c”.
    Sec. 9.  WORK-STUDY APPROPRIATION.  Notwithstanding section 256.209, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027, the amount appropriated from the general fund of the state to the college student aid commission of the department of education for the work-study program under section 256.209 shall be zero.
    Sec. 10.  Section 256.194, subsections 1 and 2, Code 2026, are amended to read as follows:
   1.  For each fiscal year beginning on or after July 1, 2025, there is appropriated from the general fund of the state to the commission for deposit in the Iowa tuition grants fund established in section 256.189, subsection 3, the sum of fifty-three million seven hundred sixty-one thousand two hundred ten fifty-four million five hundred sixty-seven thousand six hundred twenty-eight dollars.
   2.  For each fiscal year beginning on or after July 1, 2025, there is appropriated from the general fund of the state to the commission for deposit in the Iowa tuition grants for-profit institutions fund established in section 256.191, subsection 8, the sum of one hundred twelve thousand nine hundred fourteen one hundred fourteen thousand six hundred eight dollars. 
DIVISION V
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION —— REPORTING REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO ANTIBULLYING PROGRAMMING

    Sec. 11.  Section 279.51A, subsection 5, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   5.  a.  Each school district shall report to the department of education, in a manner prescribed by the department, an annual count of all incidents of violence that result in injury or property damage or assault by a student in a school building, on school grounds, or at a school-sponsored function, and any time a student is referred for the use of or transfer to a therapeutic classroom. The report shall include but not be limited to demographic information on students reported as victims and reported as perpetrators of incidents of violence that result in injury or property damage or assault, including but not limited to disaggregated information on race, gender, national origin, age, grade level, and disability, along with any other data required for the department to implement the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, Pub. L. No. 114-95, with appropriate safeguards to ensure student privacy.  The department shall compile the reports. 
   b.  The department shall compile and summarize the reports, categorized by behavior, and shall submit the summary an annual report to the general assembly by on or before November 1 annually each year that contains all of the following:
   (1)  A summary of the annual reports compiled pursuant to paragraph “a”.
   (2)  A description of the department’s antibullying programming and current and projected expenditures for the antibullying programming for the immediately preceding fiscal year.
   c.  A teacher or administrator who submits a report in accordance with this section and who meets the requirements of section 280.27 or section 613.21 shall be immune from civil or criminal liability relating to such action, as well as for participating in any administrative or judicial proceeding resulting from or relating to the report pursuant to the provisions of sections 280.27 and 613.21. The provisions of section 70A.29 shall apply to a teacher or administrator who submits a report in accordance with this section or who reports an incident of violence or assault to a local law enforcement agency in good faith and without fraudulent intent or the intent to deceive. Personal information regarding a student in a report submitted pursuant to this section shall be kept confidential as required under the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. §1232g, and in the same manner as personal information in student records maintained, created, collected, or assembled by or for a school corporation or educational institution in accordance with section 22.7, subsection 1.
DIVISION VI
BOARD OF EDUCATIONAL EXAMINERS —— FEES

    Sec. 12.  Section 256.155, subsections 2 and 3, Code 2026, are amended to read as follows:
   2.  Licensing fees are payable to the treasurer of state and shall be deposited with the executive director of the board. The executive director shall deposit twenty-five percent of the fees collected annually with the treasurer of state and the fees shall be credited to the general fund of the state. The remaining licensing fees Licensing fees collected during the fiscal year shall be retained by and are appropriated to the board for the purposes related to the board’s duties. Notwithstanding section 8.33, licensing fees retained by and appropriated to the board pursuant to this section that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the close of the fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available for expenditure for the activities of the board as provided in this part until the close of the succeeding fiscal year.
   3.  The executive director shall keep an accurate and detailed account of fees received, including fees paid to the treasurer of state and fees retained by the board.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to and makes appropriations to the education system. The bill appropriates moneys for FY 2026-2027 from the general fund of the state and other funds to the department for the blind, department of education, and state board of regents and its institutions. The bill is organized by divisions.
   DEPARTMENT FOR THE BLIND. The bill appropriates moneys to the department for the blind for its administration.
   DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. The bill appropriates moneys to the department of education for purposes of the department’s general administration and for purposes of supporting the department’s various entities, programs, funds, and duties, including but not limited to the public broadcasting division, community colleges, the Iowa school for the deaf and Iowa educational services for the blind and visually impaired program, the division of special education, and the college student aid commission.
   The bill also appropriates moneys from the Iowa skilled worker and job creation fund to the department of education for various purposes.
   STATE BOARD OF REGENTS. The bill appropriates moneys to the state board of regents for the board office, universities’ general operating budgets, the western Iowa regents resource center, the state university of Iowa, the Iowa state university of science and technology, and the university of northern Iowa.
   STANDING APPROPRIATIONS. For FY 2026-2027, the bill limits the appropriation associated with programs for at-risk children under Code section 279.51 and eliminates the appropriation associated with the work-study program under Code section 256.209. The bill increases the standing appropriation for tuition grants for qualified students enrolled in accredited private institutions under Code section 256.194(1) or eligible institutions under Code section 256.194(2).
   DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION —— REPORTING REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO ANTIBULLYING PROGRAMMING. The bill requires the department of education to submit an annual report to the general assembly that contains, in part, information related to the department’s antibullying programming.
   BOARD OF EDUCATIONAL EXAMINERS —— FEES. Current law requires the executive director of the board of educational examiners (BOEE) to deposit 25 percent of the licensing fees collected annually with the treasurer of state, and such fees are to be credited to the general fund of the state. The bill strikes this provision. The bill provides that licensing fees collected during the fiscal year are required to be retained by, and are appropriated to, the BOEE for the purposes related to the BOEE’s duties. The bill makes conforming changes.