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House Study Bill 609 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1modifying the duties of the workforce development
2board, state board of education, and department of education
3related to cyber and artificial intelligence.
4BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 84A.1B, Code 2026, is amended by adding
2the following new subsection:
3 NEW SUBSECTION. 6. Establish a comprehensive initiative to
4address the state’s cyber and artificial intelligence workforce
5needs. The comprehensive initiative must include all of the
6following:
7a. In conjunction with the department of education, support
8for the development and implementation of standards for cyber
9and artificial intelligence literacy within the kindergarten
10through grade twelve public school curriculum.
11b. Facilitation of partnerships between institutions of
12higher learning governed by the state board of regents and
13private industry to create internships, research opportunities,
14and specialized degree programs.
15c. Subject to an appropriation of funds by the general
16assembly, establish and operate all of the following:
17(1) A grant program to support educational institutions and
18private sector entities in developing and expanding cyber and
19artificial intelligence training programs.
20(2) Programs designed to facilitate career transitions into
21fields related to cyber or artificial intelligence for current
22professionals, including but not limited to law enforcement
23officers, teachers, and construction workers.
24 Sec. 2. Section 256.7, Code 2026, is amended by adding the
25following new subsection:
26 NEW SUBSECTION. 36. Oversee, in consultation with the state
27board of regents and the presidents of the community colleges
28and the chancellors of the community colleges who serve as
29the chief executive officers of such community colleges, the
30implementation of educational frameworks from kindergarten
31through higher education that include all of the following:
32a. Prioritization of federal funding opportunities to bridge
33the gap between kindergarten through grade twelve and higher
34education in cyber and artificial intelligence.
35b. Establishment of statewide, mandated outcomes or
-1-1standards for cyber and artificial intelligence literacy for
2all students, from kindergarten through higher education, that
3are based on successful outcomes or standards established in
4other states.
5c. Development and adoption of consistent statewide
6standards and frameworks for cyber and artificial intelligence
7education, from kindergarten through higher education.
8d. (1) Establishment of a voluntary certification program
9for school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter
10schools, and innovation zone schools to achieve a designation
11or certification recognizing that the school district,
12accredited nonpublic school, charter school, or innovation
13zone school is in compliance with established standards and
14best practices related to cyber and artificial intelligence.
15The state board, in consultation with the chief information
16officer, shall establish such standards and best practices.
17(2) The voluntary certification program described
18in subparagraph (1) must satisfy all of the following
19requirements:
20(a) Be based on self-attestation by the school districts,
21accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation
22zone schools.
23(b) Involve limited auditing and vetting by the department.
24 Sec. 3. Section 256.9, Code 2026, is amended by adding the
25following new subsection:
26 NEW SUBSECTION. 80. Develop and implement, in consultation
27with the department of public safety, a statewide community
28education initiative for cyber and artificial intelligence
29awareness that must include all of the following:
30a. The creation of an accessible digital resource hub
31for educational materials focused on high-need or at-risk
32demographics.
33b. The development of specific marketing campaigns and
34educational content tailored to key demographic groups,
35including the elderly, minors, law enforcement officers, and
-2-1educators.
2EXPLANATION
3The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
4the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
5This bill modifies the duties of the workforce development
6board, state board of education, and department of education
7related to cyber and artificial intelligence.
8The bill requires the workforce development board to
9establish a comprehensive initiative to address the state’s
10cyber and artificial intelligence workforce needs. The
11comprehensive initiative is required to include: support for
12the development and implementation of standards for cyber
13and artificial intelligence literacy within the kindergarten
14through grade 12 public school curriculum; facilitation of
15partnerships between institutions of higher learning governed
16by the state board of regents and private industry to create
17internships, research opportunities, and specialized degree
18programs; and, subject to an appropriation of funds by the
19general assembly, establish and operate a grant program to
20support educational institutions and private sector entities
21in developing and expanding cyber and artificial intelligence
22training programs, and programs designed to facilitate
23career transitions into fields related to cyber or artificial
24intelligence for current professionals.
25The bill requires the state board of education to oversee,
26in consultation with the state board of regents and the
27presidents of the community colleges and the chancellors of the
28community colleges who serve as the chief executive officers
29of such community colleges, the implementation of educational
30frameworks from kindergarten through higher education that
31include: prioritization of federal funding opportunities to
32bridge the gap between kindergarten through grade 12 and higher
33education in cyber and artificial intelligence; establishment
34of statewide, mandated outcomes or standards for cyber and
35artificial intelligence literacy for all students that are
-3-1based on successful outcomes or standards established in other
2states; development and adoption of consistent statewide
3standards and frameworks for cyber and artificial intelligence
4education, from kindergarten through higher education; and the
5establishment of a voluntary certification program for school
6districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools,
7and innovation zone schools to achieve a designation or
8certification recognizing that the school district, accredited
9nonpublic school, charter school, or innovation zone school is
10in compliance with established standards and best practices
11related to cyber and artificial intelligence.
12The bill requires the department of education to develop
13and implement, in consultation with the department of public
14safety, a statewide community education initiative for cyber
15and artificial intelligence awareness, which includes the
16creation of an accessible digital resource hub for educational
17materials focused on high-need or at-risk demographics, and the
18development of specific marketing campaigns and educational
19content tailored to key demographic groups.
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2board, state board of education, and department of education
3related to cyber and artificial intelligence.
4BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 84A.1B, Code 2026, is amended by adding
2the following new subsection:
3 NEW SUBSECTION. 6. Establish a comprehensive initiative to
4address the state’s cyber and artificial intelligence workforce
5needs. The comprehensive initiative must include all of the
6following:
7a. In conjunction with the department of education, support
8for the development and implementation of standards for cyber
9and artificial intelligence literacy within the kindergarten
10through grade twelve public school curriculum.
11b. Facilitation of partnerships between institutions of
12higher learning governed by the state board of regents and
13private industry to create internships, research opportunities,
14and specialized degree programs.
15c. Subject to an appropriation of funds by the general
16assembly, establish and operate all of the following:
17(1) A grant program to support educational institutions and
18private sector entities in developing and expanding cyber and
19artificial intelligence training programs.
20(2) Programs designed to facilitate career transitions into
21fields related to cyber or artificial intelligence for current
22professionals, including but not limited to law enforcement
23officers, teachers, and construction workers.
24 Sec. 2. Section 256.7, Code 2026, is amended by adding the
25following new subsection:
26 NEW SUBSECTION. 36. Oversee, in consultation with the state
27board of regents and the presidents of the community colleges
28and the chancellors of the community colleges who serve as
29the chief executive officers of such community colleges, the
30implementation of educational frameworks from kindergarten
31through higher education that include all of the following:
32a. Prioritization of federal funding opportunities to bridge
33the gap between kindergarten through grade twelve and higher
34education in cyber and artificial intelligence.
35b. Establishment of statewide, mandated outcomes or
-1-1standards for cyber and artificial intelligence literacy for
2all students, from kindergarten through higher education, that
3are based on successful outcomes or standards established in
4other states.
5c. Development and adoption of consistent statewide
6standards and frameworks for cyber and artificial intelligence
7education, from kindergarten through higher education.
8d. (1) Establishment of a voluntary certification program
9for school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter
10schools, and innovation zone schools to achieve a designation
11or certification recognizing that the school district,
12accredited nonpublic school, charter school, or innovation
13zone school is in compliance with established standards and
14best practices related to cyber and artificial intelligence.
15The state board, in consultation with the chief information
16officer, shall establish such standards and best practices.
17(2) The voluntary certification program described
18in subparagraph (1) must satisfy all of the following
19requirements:
20(a) Be based on self-attestation by the school districts,
21accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation
22zone schools.
23(b) Involve limited auditing and vetting by the department.
24 Sec. 3. Section 256.9, Code 2026, is amended by adding the
25following new subsection:
26 NEW SUBSECTION. 80. Develop and implement, in consultation
27with the department of public safety, a statewide community
28education initiative for cyber and artificial intelligence
29awareness that must include all of the following:
30a. The creation of an accessible digital resource hub
31for educational materials focused on high-need or at-risk
32demographics.
33b. The development of specific marketing campaigns and
34educational content tailored to key demographic groups,
35including the elderly, minors, law enforcement officers, and
-2-1educators.
2EXPLANATION
3The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
4the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
5This bill modifies the duties of the workforce development
6board, state board of education, and department of education
7related to cyber and artificial intelligence.
8The bill requires the workforce development board to
9establish a comprehensive initiative to address the state’s
10cyber and artificial intelligence workforce needs. The
11comprehensive initiative is required to include: support for
12the development and implementation of standards for cyber
13and artificial intelligence literacy within the kindergarten
14through grade 12 public school curriculum; facilitation of
15partnerships between institutions of higher learning governed
16by the state board of regents and private industry to create
17internships, research opportunities, and specialized degree
18programs; and, subject to an appropriation of funds by the
19general assembly, establish and operate a grant program to
20support educational institutions and private sector entities
21in developing and expanding cyber and artificial intelligence
22training programs, and programs designed to facilitate
23career transitions into fields related to cyber or artificial
24intelligence for current professionals.
25The bill requires the state board of education to oversee,
26in consultation with the state board of regents and the
27presidents of the community colleges and the chancellors of the
28community colleges who serve as the chief executive officers
29of such community colleges, the implementation of educational
30frameworks from kindergarten through higher education that
31include: prioritization of federal funding opportunities to
32bridge the gap between kindergarten through grade 12 and higher
33education in cyber and artificial intelligence; establishment
34of statewide, mandated outcomes or standards for cyber and
35artificial intelligence literacy for all students that are
-3-1based on successful outcomes or standards established in other
2states; development and adoption of consistent statewide
3standards and frameworks for cyber and artificial intelligence
4education, from kindergarten through higher education; and the
5establishment of a voluntary certification program for school
6districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools,
7and innovation zone schools to achieve a designation or
8certification recognizing that the school district, accredited
9nonpublic school, charter school, or innovation zone school is
10in compliance with established standards and best practices
11related to cyber and artificial intelligence.
12The bill requires the department of education to develop
13and implement, in consultation with the department of public
14safety, a statewide community education initiative for cyber
15and artificial intelligence awareness, which includes the
16creation of an accessible digital resource hub for educational
17materials focused on high-need or at-risk demographics, and the
18development of specific marketing campaigns and educational
19content tailored to key demographic groups.
-4-jda/jh