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House Study Bill 60 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1prohibiting private institutions of higher education
2that participate in the Iowa tuition grant program from
3establishing diversity, equity, and inclusion offices.
4BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 256.183, subsection 1, unnumbered
2paragraph 1, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
3“Accredited private institution” means an institution of
4higher learning located in Iowa which is operated privately
5and not controlled or administered by any state agency or
6any subdivision of the state and which meets the criteria in
7paragraphs “a” and “b” and all of the criteria in paragraphs “d”
8through “j” “k”, except that institutions defined in paragraph
9“c” of this subsection are exempt from the requirements of
10paragraphs “a” and “b”:
11 Sec. 2. Section 256.183, subsection 1, Code 2025, is amended
12by adding the following new paragraph:
13 NEW PARAGRAPH. k. Adopt a policy for compliance with
14chapter 261K.
15 Sec. 3. Section 256.183, subsection 3, Code 2025, is amended
16to read as follows:
173. “Eligible institution” means an institution of higher
18learning located in Iowa which is operated privately and
19not controlled or administered by any state agency or any
20subdivision of the state, which is not exempt from taxation
21under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and which
22meets all of the criteria in subsection 1, paragraphs “d”
23through “j” “k”, and is a school of barbering and cosmetology
24arts and sciences licensed under chapter 157 and is accredited
25by a national accrediting agency recognized by the United
26States department of education. For the fiscal year beginning
27July 1, 2017, such a school of barbering and cosmetology arts
28and sciences shall provide a matching aggregate amount of
29institutional financial aid equal to at least seventy-five
30percent of the amount received by the institution’s students
31for Iowa tuition grant assistance under section 256.191. For
32the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2018, the school of barbering
33and cosmetology arts and sciences shall provide a matching
34aggregate amount of institutional financial aid equal to at
35least eighty-five percent of the amount received in that fiscal
-1-1year. Commencing with the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2019,
2and each succeeding fiscal year, the matching aggregate amount
3of institutional financial aid shall be at least equal to the
4match provided by eligible institutions under section 261.9,
5subsection 3, paragraph “a”, Code 2023.
6 Sec. 4. NEW SECTION. 261K.1 Definitions.
7As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise
8requires:
91. “Department” means the department of education.
102. “Diversity, equity, and inclusion” means the same as
11defined in section 261J.1, as enacted by 2024 Iowa Acts, ch.
121152, §31.
133. “Diversity, equity, and inclusion office” means the same
14as defined in section 261J.1, as enacted by 2024 Iowa Acts, ch.
151152, §31.
164. “Private institution of higher education” means an
17accredited private institution as defined in section 256.183 or
18an eligible institution as defined in section 256.183.
19 Sec. 5. NEW SECTION. 261K.2 Diversity, equity, and
20inclusion office prohibited.
211. A private institution of higher education shall not,
22except as otherwise provided by federal or state law or
23accreditation standards, establish, sustain, support, or staff
24a diversity, equity, and inclusion office.
252. Subsection 1 shall not be construed to cover or affect a
26public institution of higher education’s funding of any of the
27following:
28a. Academic course instruction.
29b. Research or creative works by the public institution
30of higher education’s students, faculty, or other research
31personnel, and the dissemination of such research or creative
32works.
33c. Activities of registered student organizations.
34d. Arrangements for guest speakers and performers with
35short-term engagements.
-2- 1e. Mental or physical health services provided by licensed
2professionals.
33. Subsection 1 shall not be construed as prohibiting bona
4fide qualifications based on sex that are reasonably necessary
5to the normal operation of private higher education.
6 Sec. 6. NEW SECTION. 261K.3 Enforcement.
71. Any person may report a private institution of higher
8education’s potential violation of section 261K.2 to the
9attorney general. The attorney general shall provide notice
10of such report to the department and the institution within
11fifteen days. No later than thirty days after receiving such
12notice, the institution shall do one of the following:
13a. Correct the violation and provide documentation of the
14correction to the attorney general and the department.
15b. Provide documentation to the attorney general and the
16department demonstrating that the action of the institution
17upon which the report was based was not a violation of section
18261K.2.
192. If, upon the conclusion of the thirty-day period
20provided in subsection 1, the institution has not complied
21with subsection 1, paragraph “a”, or provided documentation
22under subsection 1, paragraph “b”, that demonstrates to
23the satisfaction of the attorney general that a violation
24of section 261K.2 did not occur, the institution shall be
25ineligible to participate in the tuition grant program under
26chapter 256, subchapter VII, part 4, subpart B, as of the next
27academic year beginning thereafter. When either action is
28carried out by the institution, eligibility shall be restored
29as of the next academic year beginning after such action is
30carried out. The attorney general shall notify the college
31student aid commission to this effect.
32EXPLANATION
33The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
34the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
35This bill prohibits a private institution of higher
-3-1education, as defined in the bill, from establishing,
2sustaining, supporting, or staffing a diversity, equity, and
3inclusion office, as defined in the bill. The prohibition does
4not apply if otherwise provided by federal or state law or
5accreditation standards. The bill specifies activities that
6the bill shall not be construed to prohibit.
7The bill authorizes any person to report a private
8institution of higher education’s potential violation of the
9requirements of the bill to the attorney general, who shall
10provide notice of such report to the department of education
11and the institution within 15 days. No later than 30 days
12after receiving such notice, the institution is required to
13take one of two actions.
14The institution shall either correct the violation and
15provide documentation of the correction to the attorney general
16and the department or provide documentation to the attorney
17general and the department demonstrating that the action of
18the institution upon which the report was based was not a
19violation.
20If within the 30-day period the institution has not
21corrected the violation or provided documentation that
22demonstrates to the satisfaction of the attorney general that a
23violation did not occur, the institution shall be ineligible to
24participate in the Iowa tuition grant program as of the next
25academic year beginning thereafter. When either action is
26carried out by the institution, eligibility shall be restored
27as of the next academic year beginning after such action is
28carried out.
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2that participate in the Iowa tuition grant program from
3establishing diversity, equity, and inclusion offices.
4BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 256.183, subsection 1, unnumbered
2paragraph 1, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
3“Accredited private institution” means an institution of
4higher learning located in Iowa which is operated privately
5and not controlled or administered by any state agency or
6any subdivision of the state and which meets the criteria in
7paragraphs “a” and “b” and all of the criteria in paragraphs “d”
8through “j” “k”, except that institutions defined in paragraph
9“c” of this subsection are exempt from the requirements of
10paragraphs “a” and “b”:
11 Sec. 2. Section 256.183, subsection 1, Code 2025, is amended
12by adding the following new paragraph:
13 NEW PARAGRAPH. k. Adopt a policy for compliance with
14chapter 261K.
15 Sec. 3. Section 256.183, subsection 3, Code 2025, is amended
16to read as follows:
173. “Eligible institution” means an institution of higher
18learning located in Iowa which is operated privately and
19not controlled or administered by any state agency or any
20subdivision of the state, which is not exempt from taxation
21under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and which
22meets all of the criteria in subsection 1, paragraphs “d”
23through “j” “k”, and is a school of barbering and cosmetology
24arts and sciences licensed under chapter 157 and is accredited
25by a national accrediting agency recognized by the United
26States department of education. For the fiscal year beginning
27July 1, 2017, such a school of barbering and cosmetology arts
28and sciences shall provide a matching aggregate amount of
29institutional financial aid equal to at least seventy-five
30percent of the amount received by the institution’s students
31for Iowa tuition grant assistance under section 256.191. For
32the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2018, the school of barbering
33and cosmetology arts and sciences shall provide a matching
34aggregate amount of institutional financial aid equal to at
35least eighty-five percent of the amount received in that fiscal
-1-1year. Commencing with the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2019,
2and each succeeding fiscal year, the matching aggregate amount
3of institutional financial aid shall be at least equal to the
4match provided by eligible institutions under section 261.9,
5subsection 3, paragraph “a”, Code 2023.
6 Sec. 4. NEW SECTION. 261K.1 Definitions.
7As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise
8requires:
91. “Department” means the department of education.
102. “Diversity, equity, and inclusion” means the same as
11defined in section 261J.1, as enacted by 2024 Iowa Acts, ch.
121152, §31.
133. “Diversity, equity, and inclusion office” means the same
14as defined in section 261J.1, as enacted by 2024 Iowa Acts, ch.
151152, §31.
164. “Private institution of higher education” means an
17accredited private institution as defined in section 256.183 or
18an eligible institution as defined in section 256.183.
19 Sec. 5. NEW SECTION. 261K.2 Diversity, equity, and
20inclusion office prohibited.
211. A private institution of higher education shall not,
22except as otherwise provided by federal or state law or
23accreditation standards, establish, sustain, support, or staff
24a diversity, equity, and inclusion office.
252. Subsection 1 shall not be construed to cover or affect a
26public institution of higher education’s funding of any of the
27following:
28a. Academic course instruction.
29b. Research or creative works by the public institution
30of higher education’s students, faculty, or other research
31personnel, and the dissemination of such research or creative
32works.
33c. Activities of registered student organizations.
34d. Arrangements for guest speakers and performers with
35short-term engagements.
-2- 1e. Mental or physical health services provided by licensed
2professionals.
33. Subsection 1 shall not be construed as prohibiting bona
4fide qualifications based on sex that are reasonably necessary
5to the normal operation of private higher education.
6 Sec. 6. NEW SECTION. 261K.3 Enforcement.
71. Any person may report a private institution of higher
8education’s potential violation of section 261K.2 to the
9attorney general. The attorney general shall provide notice
10of such report to the department and the institution within
11fifteen days. No later than thirty days after receiving such
12notice, the institution shall do one of the following:
13a. Correct the violation and provide documentation of the
14correction to the attorney general and the department.
15b. Provide documentation to the attorney general and the
16department demonstrating that the action of the institution
17upon which the report was based was not a violation of section
18261K.2.
192. If, upon the conclusion of the thirty-day period
20provided in subsection 1, the institution has not complied
21with subsection 1, paragraph “a”, or provided documentation
22under subsection 1, paragraph “b”, that demonstrates to
23the satisfaction of the attorney general that a violation
24of section 261K.2 did not occur, the institution shall be
25ineligible to participate in the tuition grant program under
26chapter 256, subchapter VII, part 4, subpart B, as of the next
27academic year beginning thereafter. When either action is
28carried out by the institution, eligibility shall be restored
29as of the next academic year beginning after such action is
30carried out. The attorney general shall notify the college
31student aid commission to this effect.
32EXPLANATION
33The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
34the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
35This bill prohibits a private institution of higher
-3-1education, as defined in the bill, from establishing,
2sustaining, supporting, or staffing a diversity, equity, and
3inclusion office, as defined in the bill. The prohibition does
4not apply if otherwise provided by federal or state law or
5accreditation standards. The bill specifies activities that
6the bill shall not be construed to prohibit.
7The bill authorizes any person to report a private
8institution of higher education’s potential violation of the
9requirements of the bill to the attorney general, who shall
10provide notice of such report to the department of education
11and the institution within 15 days. No later than 30 days
12after receiving such notice, the institution is required to
13take one of two actions.
14The institution shall either correct the violation and
15provide documentation of the correction to the attorney general
16and the department or provide documentation to the attorney
17general and the department demonstrating that the action of
18the institution upon which the report was based was not a
19violation.
20If within the 30-day period the institution has not
21corrected the violation or provided documentation that
22demonstrates to the satisfaction of the attorney general that a
23violation did not occur, the institution shall be ineligible to
24participate in the Iowa tuition grant program as of the next
25academic year beginning thereafter. When either action is
26carried out by the institution, eligibility shall be restored
27as of the next academic year beginning after such action is
28carried out.
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