KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Iowa

HF865 • 2026

A bill for an act modifying provisions related to the harassment or bullying of students enrolled in school districts or accredited nonpublic schools. (Formerly HF 149 .) Effective date: 07/01/2025.

A bill for an act modifying provisions related to the harassment or bullying of students enrolled in school districts or accredited nonpublic schools. (Formerly HF 149 .) Effective date: 07/01/2025.

Education
Enacted

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

Sponsor
COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Last action
2025-05-27
Official status
Signed by Governor . H.J. 1227 .
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

A bill for an act modifying provisions related to the harassment or bullying of students enrolled in school districts or accredited nonpublic schools. (Formerly HF 149 .) Effective date: 07/01/2025.

A bill for an act modifying provisions related to the harassment or bullying of students enrolled in school districts or accredited nonpublic schools.

What This Bill Does

  • A bill for an act modifying provisions related to the harassment or bullying of students enrolled in school districts or accredited nonpublic schools.
  • (Formerly HF 149 .) Effective date: 07/01/2025.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2025-05-27 Iowa Legislature

    Signed by Governor . H.J. 1227 .

  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. 1079 .

  4. 2025-04-29 Iowa Legislature

    Immediate message. S.J. 928 .

  5. 2025-04-29 Iowa Legislature

    Passed Senate , yeas 32, nays 16. S.J. 924 .

  6. 2025-04-10 Iowa Legislature

    Placed on calendar under unfinished business. S.J. 758 .

  7. 2025-03-31 Iowa Legislature

    Placed on calendar.

  8. 2025-03-31 Iowa Legislature

    Committee report, recommending passage. S.J. 667 .

  9. 2025-03-27 Iowa Legislature

    Subcommittee recommends passage.

  10. 2025-03-26 Iowa Legislature

    Subcommittee Meeting: 03/27/2025 12:00PM Room 217 Conference Room.

  11. 2025-03-26 Iowa Legislature

    Subcommittee: Salmon, Shipley, and Trone Garriott. S.J. 655 .

  12. 2025-03-19 Iowa Legislature

    Read first time, referred to Education. S.J. 571 .

  13. 2025-03-19 Iowa Legislature

    Message from House. S.J. 571 .

  14. 2025-03-18 Iowa Legislature

    Immediate message. H.J. 717 .

  15. 2025-03-18 Iowa Legislature

    Passed House , yeas 64, nays 33. H.J. 716 .

  16. 2025-03-07 Iowa Legislature

    Introduced, placed on calendar. H.J. 564 .

Official Summary Text

A bill for an act modifying provisions related to the harassment or bullying of students enrolled in school districts or accredited nonpublic schools. (Formerly HF 149 .) Effective date: 07/01/2025.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
STATE OF IOWA
K IXI REYNOLDS
GOVERNOR
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 865, an Act modifying provisions related to the harassment or bullying of
students enrolled in school districts or accredited nonpublic schools.
The above House File is hereby approved on this date.
Sijicerely,
Reynolds
Governor of I
cc: Secretary of the Senate
Clerk of the House
STATE CAPITOL DES 1\101NEs, 10WA 50319 515.281.5211 FA -X 515.725.3527 \ x'\X,'\X'.GovERNOR.IOWA.Gov
il
a: T I • ;, • ••' ` • r, • • •,•
. dllllhlllllllllll, h`••' - ' • r^5
-AMA— • Ik •-' r•
h
h •
i .••• ..,
•• offal ÿll alto llt 11 l 11 h•. A
1',N Ed1ZA L AS 5ENI13 I A 11181plpppllBIIIIIIIIIIIIIICWPEIAIEEAIItlIp111111119111dL'EißIp41A11111111[I11911tlIE'':I ApîîpllllßlAlEllll ßllpllA7p88î8!'E:EE.!""E°tlBdßtlllElißillEp'7••3•L"l'.ISpGllpllßllEliß11tl81116ßlllllllllllfllllßdtl[1881p?Ip
House File 865
AN ACT
MODIFYING PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE HARASSMENT OR BULLYING
OF STUDENTS ENROLLED IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS OR ACCREDITED
NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
Section 1. Section 279.10, subsection 2, paragraph b, Code
2025, is amended to read as follows:
b. An attendance center or school authorized to maintain
a year-round calendar must serve all students attending the
school and shall not be limited based on student achievement or
based on the trait or characteristic of the student as defined
in section 280.28, Code 2024.
Sec. 2. Section 280.28, subsection 2, paragraph b,
unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2025, is amended to read as
follows:
' Harassment"" and " bullying'" shall be construed to mean any
repeated and targeted electronic, written, verbal, or physical
act or conduct toward a student which is bascd on any actual or
p ereeived trait er eharae`cri3tic of the Student and which that
creates an objectively hostile school environment that meets
one or more of the following conditions:
House File 865, p. 2
Sec. 3. Section 280.28, subsection 2, paragraph c, Code
2025, is amended
AMY SIN ff IR PAT GRASSLE
by striking the paragraph.
Speaker of the House President of the Senate
I hereby certify that this bill originated in the House and
is known as House File 865, Ninety-first General Assembly.
Approved
MEG XN NELSON
Chi f Clerk-" Of the House
KIM NOLDS
Governor
N