Read the full stored bill text
Kim Reynolds OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR Chris Cournoyer
GOVERNOR LT GOVERNOR
June 02, 2026
The Honorable Paul Pate
Secretary of State of Iowa
State Capitol
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Dear Mr. Secretary,
I hereby transmit:
House File 2591, an Act relating to open enrollment, student transfers, and interscholastic
athletic eligibility requirements, and including effective date provisions.
The above House File is hereby approved on this date.
Sincerely,
Kim ReynoldsKim Reynolds
Govemor of Iowa
cc: Secretary of the Senate
Clerk of the House
STATE CAPITOL DES MOINES, IOWA 50319 515.281.5211 WWW.GOVERNOR.IOWA.GOV
E£2!Sg5ES5GRm
WILL MAINTAI
j:;^rGT:NKi^Ai. AS5jrKMBi.Y [^;^ihnBinminimmiHiim!!!HinnmimiiiDimii!!!isiKiiiiMH!iiiim!i!r{!i]iiiiiimiiiiiiinmi»ii!nt!ii!rr!iiiHmiiiiimiuLi;!i!i'iiiiimiiiiiiii!iu!;[t!i!ii!fiiiimtii!iii!ii!ii'K
House File 2591
AN ACT
RELATING TO OPEN ENROLLMENT, STUDENT TRANSFERS, AND
INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, AND
INCLUDING EFFECTIVE DATE PROVISIONS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
Section 1. Section 256.7, Code 2026, is amended by adding
the following new subsection:
NEW SUBSECTION. 36. Adopt rules allowing students enrolled
in grade eight to participate in any extracurricular
House File 2591, p. 2
interscholastic athletic contest or competition that is
provided by a school district, nonpublic school, or charter
school on the same basis as students who are enrolled in grades
nine through twelve.
Sec. 2. Section 256.46, Code 2026, is amended by adding the
following new subsection;
NEW SUBSECTION. 4, A student in grades nine through
twelve who transfers from one school to another school shall
be ineligible to compete in interscholastic athletics for a
period of one hundred forty calendar days following enrollment
in the new school, exclusive of summer enrollment, unless one
of the exceptions listed in subsection 1 applies or a similar
circumstance exists as determined by rule of the state board.
The period of ineligibility applies only to varsity level
contests and competitions.
Sec. 3. Section 282.18, subsection 11, paragraph a,
unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2026, is amended to read as
follows:
A pupil who participates in open enrollment for purposes of
attending a grade in grades nine through twelve in a school
district other than the district of residence is ineligible to
participate in varsity interscholastic athletic contests and
athletic competitions during the pupil's first ninety school
one hundred forty calendar days of enrollment in the district.
However, a pupil may participate immediately in a varsity
interscholastic sport under any of the following circumstances:
Sec. 4. EMERGENCY RULES. The State board of education shall
adopt emergency rules under section 17A.4, subsection 3, and
section 17A.5, subsection 2, paragraph ^b", to implement the
section of this Act amending section 256.7. The rules shall
be effective no later than August 1, 2026. Any rules adopted
in accordance with this section shall also be published as a
notice of intended action as provided in section 17A.4.
Sec. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. The following take effect August
1, 2026:
1. The section of this Act amending section 256.46.
2. The section of this Act amending section 282.18.
Sec. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. The following, being deemed of
immediate importance, take effect upon enactment:
House Pile 2591, p. 3
1. The section of this Act amending section 256.7.
2. The section of this Act requiring emergency rulemaking.
PAT GRASSLEY
Speaker of the House
AMY SINCLi
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that this bill originated in the House and
is known as House File 2591, Ninety-first General Assembly.
/Hlkn
Approved
MEGI^N NELSON
Chief ^Clerk of. the House
2026
KIM R^JNOLDS
Governor