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Kim Reynolds
governor
Office of the Governor Chris Cournoyer
LT GOVERNOR
June 01, 2026
The Honorable Paul Pate
Secretary of State of Iowa
State Capitol
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Dear Mr. Secretaiy,
I hereby transmit:
House File 223 1 , an Act establishing a seal of civics excellence program administered by
the department of education to recognize student excellence in civics.
The above House File is hereby approved on this date.
Sincerely,
Kim Reynolls
Governor of Iowa
cc: Secretary of the Senate
Clerk of the House
STATE CAPITOL DES MOINES, IOWA 50319 515.281.5211 WWW.GOVERNOR.IOWA.GOV
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House File 2231
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A SEAL OF CIVICS EXCELLENCE PROGRAM ADMINISTERED
BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO RECOGNIZE STUDENT
EXCELLENCE IN CIVICS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
Section 1. Section 256.9, subsection 59, Code 2026, is
amended to read as follows:
59. a. Develop and administer a seal of biliteracy program
to recognize students graduating from high school who have
demonstrated proficiency in two or more world languages, one of
which may be American sign language, though one of which must
be English. Participation in the program by a school district,
attendance center, or accredited nonpublic school shall
be voluntary. The department shall work with stakeholders
to identify standardized tests that may be utilized to
demonstrate proficiency. The department shall produce a seal
of biliteracy, which may include but need not be limited to
a sticker that may be affixed to a student's high school
transcript or a certificate that may be awarded to the student.
A participating school district or school shall notify the
department of the names of the students who have qualified for
the seal and the department shall provide the school district
or school with the appropriate number of seals or other
authorized endorsement. The department may charge a nominal
fee to cover printing and postage charges related to issuance
of the biliteracy seal under this ou-bsection paragraph .
House File 2231, p. 2
b. Develop and administer a seal of civics excellence
program to recognize students graduating from high school who
have demonstrated proficiency in civics. The department shall
determine the minimum requirements necessary for a student
to obtain a civics seal, including knowledge of American
government and participation in civic and community activities.
The department shall produce a civics seal, which may include
a sticker which may be affixed to a student's high school
transcript or a certificate awarded to the student. A seal of
civics excellence may be affixed to the diploma and noted on
the transcript of a student to recognize that the student has
achieved excellence in civics. Participation in the program
by a school district or accredited nonpublic school shall be
voluntary. A participating school district or accredited
nonpublic school shall notify the department of the names of
students who have qualified for a seal, and the department
shall provide the school district or accredited nonpublic
school with the appropriate number of seals or other authorized
endorsement. The department may charge a nominal fee to cover
printing and postal charges related to the issuance of the
civics seal under this paragraph.
PAT GRASSLEY AMY SINCLAIR
Speaker the House President of the Senate
I hereby certify that this bill originated in the House and
is known as House File 2231, Ninety-first General Assembly.
meg:
Approve 2026
Chiaf Clerk.of the House
KINrREYNOLDS I
Governor /