HF 2226 (LSB 5084HV (2) 91)

HOUSE FILE 2226

BY  COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

(SUCCESSOR TO HSB 530)

(As Amended and Passed by the House 2026-02-24)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the bachelor of science in nursing program at the university of Iowa, including priority for admission and reporting requirements.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 262.9, Code 2026, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  39A.  a.  Not later than December 31, 2026, adopt a policy requiring that, beginning with the fall 2027 semester, that not less than seventy percent of the students who are accepted into the bachelor of science in nursing program at the college of nursing at the state university of Iowa each year be residents of Iowa.
   b.  Adopt a policy that gives priority for admission to residents of Iowa who apply to the bachelor of science in nursing program at the state university of Iowa.
   c.  Adopt a policy requiring an application for admission to the bachelor of science in nursing program at the state university of Iowa to include an applicant attestation that includes all of the following:
   (1)  I was born in Iowa or graduated from an Iowa high school.
   (2)  I was not born in Iowa or did not graduate from an Iowa high school; however, I am interested in working in Iowa after graduation.
   (3)  I was not born in Iowa or did not graduate from an Iowa high school; however, I am interested in enrolling in the bachelor of science in nursing program at the state university of Iowa.
   d.  (1)  Require the state university of Iowa to submit an annual report to the general assembly that contains, for the immediately preceding calendar year, all of the following:
   (a)  The number of applicants who are residents of Iowa who were accepted to the bachelor of science in nursing program.
   (b)  The number of applicants who are residents of Iowa who were not accepted to the bachelor of science in nursing program, and a brief statement related to why each applicant was denied.
   (2)  Personal information regarding an applicant in an annual report submitted pursuant to this paragraph shall be kept confidential as required under the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. §1252g, and in the same manner as personal information in student records maintained, created, collected, or assembled by or for a school corporation or education institution in accordance with section 22.7, subsection 1.
   e.  For purposes of this subsection:
   (1)  “Bachelor of science in nursing program” means the undergraduate bachelor of science in nursing degree program offered by the college of nursing at the state university of Iowa.
   (2)  “Resident of Iowa” means an individual who graduated from an Iowa high school.