HF 401 (LSB 1212HV (3) 91)

HOUSE FILE 401

BY  COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

(SUCCESSOR TO HSB 63)

(As Amended and Passed by the House 2025-03-18)

A BILL FOR

An Act providing for general education requirements for undergraduate students at regents institutions and including applicability provisions.
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 “Core Curriculum Act”.
    Sec. 2.  NEW SECTION.  262C.1  Definitions.
   As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
   1.  “Board” means the state board of regents.
   2.  “Institution” means an institution of higher learning governed by the board.
    Sec. 3.  NEW SECTION.  262C.2  General education requirements.
   The board shall develop and adopt a policy establishing general education requirements for undergraduate students. The policy must include all of the following:
   1.  Each institution shall establish all of the following general education requirements that must be completed for a student to receive an undergraduate degree:
   a.  Six semester credit hours of English.
   b.  Three semester credit hours of mathematics and statistics.
   c.  Four semester credit hours of natural sciences.
   d.  Six semester credit hours of social sciences.
   e.  Six semester credit hours of the humanities.
   f.  Three semester credit hours of western heritage. Coursework satisfying this requirement shall consist of introductory survey courses concerning western heritage such as western civilization, British literature, or Greek philosophy. Coursework for western heritage shall also satisfy the required semester hours for English, social studies, or the humanities, as designated by the institution.
   g.  Three semester credit hours of American heritage. Coursework satisfying this requirement shall consist of introductory survey courses concerning American heritage, such as American history, Iowa history, American government, or American literature. If the institution offers or requires a course on American history and civil government, semester hours for that course shall satisfy this requirement. Coursework for American heritage shall also satisfy the required semester hours for social studies or the humanities, as designated by the institution.
   2.  An institution shall not establish more than thirty-seven semester credit hours of general education requirements. An institution may increase the number of semester hours for any of the requirements of subsection 1, provided that the total number of required semester hours of general education shall not exceed thirty-seven.
   3.  Except as provided in subsection 1, an institution shall not designate any course as satisfying more than one of the general education requirements provided in subsection 1.
   4.  An institution shall provide equivalent credit toward the requirements of subsection 1 to a student transferring to the institution for previous coursework completed by the student that is substantially similar to a requirement of subsection 1.
   5.  If the board or an institution has established a center for intellectual freedom or a center for civic education, the center shall annually review and approve the courses that will satisfy the requirements of subsection 1, paragraphs “f” and “g”.
    Sec. 4.  NEW SECTION.  262C.3  Standards for course content.
   The board shall adopt a policy to ensure that courses that satisfy the general education requirements established pursuant to section 262C.2 do not distort significant historical events or include any curriculum or other material that teaches identity politics or is based on theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, or privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States of America or the state of Iowa. The policy shall not limit the academic freedom of any course instructor to direct the instruction within the instructor’s course or limit the free discussion of ideas in a classroom setting.
    Sec. 5.  NEW SECTION.  262C.4  Exceptions —— waiver.
   1.  The general education requirements established pursuant to section 262C.2 shall not apply to a student completing a degree program that is designated by an institution as a degree program of three years or less in duration.
   2.  The board may waive one or more requirements of section 262.2 for a degree program if the board determines the program is in a complex field or requires an increased amount of focus on the courses related to a student’s major.
    Sec. 6.  NEW SECTION.  262C.5  Enforcement.
   Any person may notify the attorney general of an institution’s potential violation of this chapter. The attorney general may bring an action against an institution for a writ of mandamus to compel the institution to comply with this chapter.
    Sec. 7.  APPLICABILITY.  This Act applies to students beginning enrollment at institutions of higher learning governed by the state board of regents in academic years beginning on or after July 1, 2027.