HF252 • 2026

A bill for an act incorporating preparation in computer science, artificial intelligence, and computational thinking into the preparation required in approved practitioner preparation programs, and including applicability provisions.

Education Technology

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: INGELS
Last action: 2025-02-20
Official status: Subcommittee recommends passage.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on the applicability of existing programs prior to July 1, 2026.

Adding Computer Science and AI to Teacher Training

This bill requires teacher training programs in Iowa to include preparation in computer science, artificial intelligence, and computational thinking for future teachers starting July 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

Requires higher education institutions to prepare future teachers with skills in computer science, AI, and computational thinking appropriate to the grade level and subject area they will teach.
Allows these institutions to meet the requirement through dedicated courses or by integrating it into existing programs.
Directs the state board of regents to provide guidance on how to incorporate this preparation into teacher training programs.

Who It Names or Affects

Higher education institutions providing approved practitioner preparation programs in Iowa
Future teachers admitted to these programs starting July 1, 2026

Terms To Know

practitioner preparation program: A teacher training program that prepares individuals to become certified or licensed educators.
computational thinking: The process of using computer science principles and techniques to solve problems, design systems, and understand human behavior.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify how the requirement will be enforced or what consequences there are for non-compliance.
It is unclear if existing teacher training programs must also incorporate these subjects before July 1, 2026.

Bill History

2025-02-20 Iowa Legislature
Subcommittee recommends passage.
2025-02-17 Iowa Legislature
Subcommittee Meeting: 02/20/2025 8:00AM RM 19.
2025-02-11 Iowa Legislature
Subcommittee: Ingels, Kurth and Weldon. H.J. 291 .
2025-02-06 Iowa Legislature
Introduced, referred to Education. H.J. 259 .

Official Summary Text

A bill for an act incorporating preparation in computer science, artificial intelligence, and computational thinking into the preparation required in approved practitioner preparation programs, and including applicability provisions.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

House

File

252

-

Introduced

HOUSE

FILE

252

BY

INGELS

A

BILL

FOR

An

Act

incorporating

preparation

in

computer

science,

1

artificial

intelligence,

and

computational

thinking

into

the

2

preparation

required

in

approved

practitioner

preparation

3

programs,

and

including

applicability

provisions.

4

BE

IT

ENACTED

BY

THE

GENERAL

ASSEMBLY

OF

THE

STATE

OF

IOWA:

5

TLSB

2250HH

(3)

91

jda/jh

H.F.

252

Section

1.

Section

256.16,

subsection

1,

Code

2025,

is

1

amended

by

adding

the

following

new

paragraph:

2

NEW

PARAGRAPH

.

o.

Beginning

July

1,

2026,

include

3

preparation

in

computer

science,

artificial

intelligence,

4

and

computational

thinking

that

is

appropriate

to

the

grade

5

level

and

subject

area

in

which

the

practitioner

preparation

6

student

will

teach.

A

higher

education

institution

providing

7

practitioner

preparation

may

satisfy

this

requirement

by

8

requiring

a

practitioner

preparation

student

to

complete

a

9

dedicated

course

or

module,

or

by

integrating

such

preparation

10

into

the

existing

program.

11

Sec.

2.

Section

262.9,

Code

2025,

is

amended

by

adding

the

12

following

new

subsection:

13

NEW

SUBSECTION

.

39.

Develop

and

distribute

to

all

higher

14

education

institutions

in

this

state

that

provide

approved

15

practitioner

preparation

programs

guidance

related

to

how

to

16

incorporate

preparation

related

to

computer

science,

artificial

17

intelligence,

and

computational

thinking

into

the

practitioner

18

preparation

program,

as

required

under

section

256.16,

19

subsection

1,

paragraph

“o”

.

20

Sec.

3.

APPLICABILITY.

The

following

applies

to

students

21

admitted

to

an

approved

practitioner

preparation

program

on

or

22

after

July

1,

2026:

23

The

section

of

this

Act

amending

section

256.16.

24

EXPLANATION

25

The

inclusion

of

this

explanation

does

not

constitute

agreement

with

26

the

explanation’s

substance

by

the

members

of

the

general

assembly.

27

This

bill

requires

approved

practitioner

preparation

28

programs

to

include

preparation

in

computer

science,

artificial

29

intelligence,

and

computational

thinking

that

is

appropriate

30

to

the

grade

level

and

subject

area

in

which

the

practitioner

31

preparation

student

will

teach,

beginning

July

1,

2026.

32

The

bill

allows

a

higher

education

institution

providing

33

practitioner

preparation

to

satisfy

this

requirement

by

34

requiring

a

practitioner

preparation

student

to

complete

a

35

-1-

LSB

2250HH

(3)

91

jda/jh

1/

2

H.F.

252

dedicated

course

or

module,

or

by

integrating

such

preparation

1

into

the

existing

program.

These

provisions

apply

to

students

2

admitted

to

an

approved

practitioner

preparation

program

on

or

3

after

July

1,

2026.

4

The

state

board

of

regents

is

required

to

develop

and

5

distribute

to

all

higher

education

institutions

in

this

6

state

that

provide

approved

practitioner

preparation

programs

7

guidance

related

to

how

to

incorporate

preparation

related

to

8

computer

science,

artificial

intelligence,

and

computational

9

thinking

into

the

program.

10

-2-

LSB

2250HH

(3)

91

jda/jh

2/

2