HF 522—Using Therapeutic Classroom Funds for Nutritional Items: This bill would require therapeutic classroom funds to be used for assessing the nutritional needs of students, providing certain foods and restricting other foods and additives, and increasing student access to natural light. An amendment by the committee changes the “shall” to a “may,” so districts would not have to spend the funds on those items.  

IASB is registered opposed to the bill because the limited funds that are available through the therapeutic classroom grants should be used for proven educational purposes to ensure the students can return to their normal classroom as soon as possible. We do appreciate the amendment to make this optional rather than required. The bill passed the House Education Committee.  

HF 515—Operational Sharing for School Resource Officers: This bill would add school resource officers (SROs) as a position that can be shared and receive a supplementary weighting of five pupils. 

IASB is registered to support the bill because it would expand the number of districts who could employ an SRO with the availability of incentives for sharing the position. The bill passed the House Education Committee.  

HSB 157—Dropout Prevention Equity: This bill would allow districts that are capped below the 5% amount for dropout prevention funds to increase their percentage over time. Districts would be required to hold an election that would allow them to increase their dropout prevention by .25% each year, up to the 5% maximum. 

IASB is registered in support of the bill. While this would not be our ideal solution to achieving equity in dropout prevention funds, it is a mechanism that does allow districts to increase their spending on dropout prevention. The bill passed the House Education Committee.  

HF 514—Robotics Organizations: This bill requires the Department of Education to provide resources to school districts to ensure their robotics clubs and organizations meet federal standards. This will allow those clubs to receive federal money to support their organization.  

IASB is registered in support of the bill because it offers federal funding and opportunities for students interested in robotics. The bill passed the House Education Committee. 

HF 520—Civics Instruction: This bill requires students to take one unit of U.S. government, increasing it from the current one-half unit requirement. It also requires instruction on civics to be included in that unit. This would begin in the 2026-27 school year. 

IASB is registered undecided on the bill. While we have some concerns about increasing the credit requirements, this bill is better than other bills about civics instruction and has a workable implementation timeline. The bill passed the House Education Committee. 

HF 521—Obscenity Exemptions Repeal: This bill removes the exemption for obscene material that may be used for educational purposes in a school. 

IASB is registered undecided on the bill. We think the requirements for schools established in prior legislation, SF 496, covered this issue, so removing the exemption will not further limit what schools can provide to students. The bill passed the House Education Committee. 

HF 471—Concussion Providers: This bill adds that someone who holds a doctorate in psychology with specialty training in neuropsychology or concussion management as a licensed health care provider can administer care when concussion protocol is required.  

IASB is registered undecided on the bill, but we welcome any qualified providers to assist districts with concussion protocol. The bill passed the House Health and Human Services Committee. 

HF 517—Vacant School Building Demolition Grant Program: This bill would establish a fund to be used for demolition of vacant school buildings in towns with a population of less than 2,500.  

IASB is registered in support of the bill. It is often more expensive to tear down a building than what the building is worth, so this helps smaller districts with that cost. The bill passed the House Economic Growth and Technology Committee and has been referred to the Appropriations Committee.  

HF 392—Allowing Year-Round School Calendars: This bill would allow school districts to apply to the Department of Education for a waiver allowing a year-round school calendar through 12th grade. Currently, year-round calendars are limited to preschool through 8th grade.  

IASB is registered in support of the bill because it allows local control and flexibility when setting the school calendar. The bill passed the House by a vote of 91-1. 

SF 64—Budget Guarantee for Districts Impacted by Natural Disaster: This bill would allow districts to remain on the budget guarantee for an additional year if they are in a declared natural disaster area.  

IASB is registered in support of the bill. We know districts that experience a natural disaster often have enrollment loss, and this will help mitigate those losses by providing continued funding. The bill passed the Senate Education Committee and has been referred to the Ways and Means Committee.  

SF 368—Mandatory Seizure Disorder Training: This bill would require training for school personnel related to seizure disorders. At least one person in every school building, starting July 1, 2025, would be required to administer medication to a student experiencing a seizure. A school nurse would meet this requirement. All school personnel, by December 31, 2026, would be required to receive training on how to recognize the signs and symptoms of seizure and steps for seizure first aid.  

An amendment by the committee added the creation of a workgroup made up of people from both education and healthcare that would establish a schedule of mandatory training for school personnel. Additionally, any time there is a training someone wants added, the group will consider if it is necessary and how it would be added to the schedule of existing trainings. 

IASB has been registered opposed to the bill because it increases the number of mandatory trainings for teachers; however, the amendment is a good compromise and something we have been pushing for several years. Now that the workgroup is added to the bill, we are in favor. The bill passed the Senate Education Committee.  

SF 175—Human Growth and Development Curriculum Requirements: This bill would require school districts to provide instruction in grades on fetal development with a video, ultrasound or real images. An amendment on the floor removed the requirement to teach this in grades 1-3, but it would be required for grades 4-12. 

IASB is registered opposed to the bill, as we are on all curriculum mandates. We are opposed to the process rather than the content. We think the legislature should develop broad requirements, like human growth and development, the State Board of Education then develops content standards and local school districts should be able to choose a curriculum to meet those standards. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 31-13. 

SF 278—Robotics Organizations: This bill requires the Department of Education to provide resources to school districts to ensure their robotics clubs and organizations meet federal standards. This will allow those clubs to receive federal money to support their organization.  

IASB is registered in support of the bill because it offers federal funding and opportunities for students interested in robotics. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 46-0.