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HF299 • 2026

A bill for an act relating to the provision of information relating to immunization exemptions. (Formerly HF 34 .) Effective date: 07/01/2025.

A bill for an act relating to the provision of information relating to immunization exemptions. (Formerly HF 34 .) Effective date: 07/01/2025.

Children Education Healthcare Parental Rights
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Last action
2025-05-27
Official status
Signed by Governor . H.J. 1225 .
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify detailed information about what must be included regarding immunization exemptions, nor does it provide specifics on funding for implementation.

Immunization Exemption Information Act

This act requires schools and child care centers to provide information about immunization exemptions in communications with parents, guardians, and students.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires all public and private schools to include information on immunization exemptions when communicating with parents or guardians about required vaccinations.
  • Requires licensed child care centers to inform parents or guardians about the options for exempting their children from vaccines.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Parents and guardians of school-aged children
  • Students at colleges and universities
  • School districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools
  • Child care centers

Terms To Know

Immunization Exemptions
Allowances for individuals to skip certain vaccines due to medical reasons or personal beliefs.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what kind of information must be included about immunization exemptions.
  • It is unclear how much funding will actually be needed or allocated for this mandate.
  • The act only applies to schools and child care centers in Iowa.

Bill History

  1. 2025-05-27 Iowa Legislature

    Signed by Governor . H.J. 1225 .

  2. 2025-05-19 Iowa Legislature

    Reported correctly enrolled, signed by Speaker and President, and sent to Governor. H.J. 1224 .

  3. 2025-04-30 Iowa Legislature

    Message from Senate. H.J. 1078 .

  4. 2025-04-29 Iowa Legislature

    Immediate message. S.J. 924 .

  5. 2025-04-29 Iowa Legislature

    Passed Senate , yeas 32, nays 16. S.J. 921 .

  6. 2025-04-29 Iowa Legislature

    Substituted for SF 6 . S.J. 920 .

  7. 2025-04-03 Iowa Legislature

    Placed on calendar under unfinished business. S.J. 688 .

  8. 2025-03-18 Iowa Legislature

    Explanation of vote. H.J. 718 .

  9. 2025-03-10 Iowa Legislature

    Read first time, attached to SF 6 . S.J. 457 .

  10. 2025-03-10 Iowa Legislature

    Message from House. S.J. 457 .

  11. 2025-03-10 Iowa Legislature

    Immediate message. H.J. 590 .

  12. 2025-03-10 Iowa Legislature

    Passed House , yeas 58, nays 30. H.J. 579 .

  13. 2025-02-10 Iowa Legislature

    Introduced, placed on calendar. H.J. 276 .

Official Summary Text

A bill for an act relating to the provision of information relating to immunization exemptions. (Formerly HF 34 .) Effective date: 07/01/2025.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
STATE OF IOWA
KIM R EYNOLDS
G OVERNOR
May 27, 2025
The Honorable Paul Pate
Secretary of State of Iowa
State Capitol
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Dear Mr. Secretary,
I hereby transmit:
House File 299, an Act relating to the provision of information relating to immunization
exemptions.
The above House File is hereby approved on this date.
Sinegrely,
cc: Secretary of the Senate
Clerk of the House
STATE CAPITOL DES MOINES, IOWA 50319 515.281.5211 FAX 515.725.3527 WWW.GOVERNOR.IOWA.GOV
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House File 299
AN ACT
RELATING TO THE PROVISION OF INFORMATION RELATING TO
IMMUNIZATION EXEMPTIONS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
Section 1. Section 139A.8, subsection 4, Code 2025, is
amended by adding the following new paragraph:
NEW PARAGRAPH. c. Information regarding exemptions and
the requirements for an exemption under this subsection
shall be included in any public communication following the
recommendation of an immunization by the department pursuant to
subsection 2, shall be included in any communication regarding
immunizations to a parent or legal guardian from a school,
and shall be published on the internet sites of and included
in registration documentation for all elementary schools,
secondary schools, and licensed child care centers.
House File 299, p. 2
Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 237A.3C Immunization information.
Each child care center, child care facility, child care
home, and child development home shall include information
regarding the exemptions and requirements for an exemption
described in section 139A.8, subsection 4, in any communication
to the parent or guardian of a child that is related to the
immunizations required under section 139A.8.
Sec. 3. Section 256.7, Code 2025, is amended by adding the
following new subsection:
NEW SUBSECTION. 15. Adopt rules under chapter 17A that
require school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter
schools, and innovation zone
regarding the exemptions and
described in section 139A.8,
to the parent or guardian of
immunizations required under
Sec. 4. Section 256.183,
schools to include information
requirements for an exemption
subsection 4, in any communication
a student that is related to the
section 139A.8.
subsection 1, unnumbered paragraph
1, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
" Accredited private institution - means an institution of
higher learning located in Iowa which is operated privately
and not controlled or administered by any state agency or
any subdivision of the state and which meets the criteria in
paragraphs " a - and " b - and all of the criteria in paragraphs " d
through — " k - , except that institutions defined in paragraph
- c - of this subsection are exempt from the requirements of
paragraphs - a - and ' b
Sec. 5. Section 256.183, subsection 1, Code 2025, is amended
by adding the following new paragraph:
NEW PARAGRAPH. k. Adopts a policy that requires the
institution to include in any communication to students that
is related to immunization requirements information regarding
exemptions to such requirements.
Sec. 6. Section 256.183, subsection 3, Code 2025, is amended
to read as follows:
3. - Eligible institution" means an institution of higher
learning located in Iowa which is operated privately and
not controlled or administered by any state agency or any
subdivision of the state, which is not exempt from taxation
under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and which
House File 299, p. 3
meets all of the criteria in subsection 1, paragraphs - d
through 2 - " k - , and is a school of barbering and cosmetology
arts and sciences licensed under chapter 157 and is accredited
by a national accrediting agency recognized by the United
States department of education. For the fiscal year beginning
July 1, 2017, such a school of barbering and cosmetology arts
and sciences shall provide a matching aggregate amount of
institutional financial aid equal
percent of the amount received by
for Iowa tuition grant assistance
the fiscal year beginning July 1,
and cosmetology arts and sciences
aggregate amount of institutional
to at least seventy-five
the institution's students
under section 256.191. For
2018, the school of barbering
shall provide a matching
financial aid equal to at
least eighty-five percent of the amount received in that fiscal
year. Commencing with the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2019,
and each succeeding fiscal year, the matching aggregate amount
of institutional financial aid shall be at least equal to the
match provided by eligible institutions under section 261.9,
subsection 3, paragraph ' a te ", Code 2023.
Sec. 7. Section 260C.14, Code 2025, is amended by adding the
following new subsection:
NEW SUBSECTION. 26. Adopt rules that require the community
college to include in any communication to students that is
related to immunization requirements information regarding
exemptions to such requirements.
Sec. 8. Section 262.9, Code 2025, is amended by adding the
following new subsection:
NEW SUBSECTION. 39. Direct the institutions of higher
education under its control to adopt a policy that requires the
institution to include in any communication to students that
is related to immunization requirements information regarding
exemptions to such requirements.
Sec. 9. STATE MANDATE FUNDING SPECIFIED. In accordance
with section 25B.2, subsection 3, the state cost of requiring
compliance with any state mandate included in this Act shall
be paid by a school district from state school foundation aid
received by the school district under section 257.16. This
specification of the payment of the state cost shall be deemed
to meet all of the state funding- related requirements of
House File 299, p. 4
section 25B.2, subsection 3, and no additional state funding
shall be necessary for the full implementation of this Act
by and enforcement of this Act against all affected school
districts.
PAT GRASSLE
Speaker of the House
AMY SINC_•IR
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that this bill originated in the House and
is known as House File 299, Ninety-first General Assembly.
Approve
Chi Cle
KIM NOLDS
Governor
of the House