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SF2219 • 2026

A bill for an act requiring boards of directors of school districts, governing boards of charter schools, and authorities in charge of accredited nonpublic schools to adopt policies related to exempting student absences for school-sponsored activities, programs, competitions, and projects. (Formerly SSB 3041 .) Effective date: 07/01/2026.

A bill for an act requiring boards of directors of school districts, governing boards of charter schools, and authorities in charge of accredited nonpublic schools to adopt policies related to exempting student absences for school-sponsored activities, programs, competitions, and projects. (Formerly SSB 3041 .) Effective date: 07/01/2026.

Education
Enacted

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

Sponsor
COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Last action
2026-05-19
Official status
Signed by Governor .
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on how schools will enforce the new policies or what happens if a student fails to make up missed work. Additionally, there are no penalties specified for non-compliance by schools.

School Absence Policy for School Activities

This law requires school boards and governing bodies to create policies that allow students to be excused from school when they miss classes due to participating in school-sponsored activities, programs, competitions, or projects.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires school districts' boards of directors to adopt a policy for exempting student absences related to school-sponsored activities.
  • Requires governing bodies of charter schools and accredited nonpublic schools to also create similar policies.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Boards of directors of school districts
  • Governing boards of charter schools
  • Authorities in charge of accredited nonpublic schools

Terms To Know

Accredited Nonpublic School
A private or independent school that meets certain standards and is recognized by an official organization.
School-Sponsored Activity
An event, program, competition, or project organized by the school for educational purposes.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law does not specify what happens if a student fails to make up missed work.
  • It is unclear how schools will enforce these policies in practice.
  • There are no details on penalties for schools that do not comply with the new requirements.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-19 Iowa Legislature

    Signed by Governor .

  2. 2026-05-05 Iowa Legislature

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

  3. 2026-04-15 Iowa Legislature

    Message from Senate. H.J. 901 .

  4. 2026-04-15 Iowa Legislature

    Immediate message. S.J. 797 .

  5. 2026-04-15 Iowa Legislature

    Passed Senate , yeas 47, nays 0. S.J. 797 .

  6. 2026-04-15 Iowa Legislature

    Senate concurred with S-5165 . S.J. 796 .

  7. 2026-04-08 Iowa Legislature

    Message from House, with amendment S-5165 . S.J. 748 .

  8. 2026-04-07 Iowa Legislature

    Immediate message. H.J. 835 .

  9. 2026-04-07 Iowa Legislature

    Passed House , yeas 85, nays 8. H.J. 829 .

  10. 2026-04-07 Iowa Legislature

    Committee amendment H-8246 adopted. H.J. 828 .

  11. 2026-03-26 Iowa Legislature

    Placed on calendar under unfinished business. H.J. 760 .

  12. 2026-03-19 Iowa Legislature

    Placed on calendar. H.J. 704 .

  13. 2026-03-19 Iowa Legislature

    Committee amendment H-8246 filed. H.J. 704 .

  14. 2026-03-19 Iowa Legislature

    Committee vote: Yeas, 22. Nays, 1. H.J. 704 .

  15. 2026-03-19 Iowa Legislature

    Committee report, recommending passage. H.J. 704 .

  16. 2026-03-09 Iowa Legislature

    Subcommittee recommends passage.

  17. 2026-03-05 Iowa Legislature

    Subcommittee Meeting: 03/09/2026 1:00PM House Lounge.

  18. 2026-03-05 Iowa Legislature

    Subcommittee: Hora, Behn and Madison. H.J. 601 .

  19. 2026-02-24 Iowa Legislature

    Read first time, referred to Education. H.J. 403 .

  20. 2026-02-23 Iowa Legislature

    Message from Senate. H.J. 379 .

  21. 2026-02-23 Iowa Legislature

    Immediate message. S.J. 352 .

  22. 2026-02-23 Iowa Legislature

    Explanation of vote. S.J. 373 .

  23. 2026-02-23 Iowa Legislature

    Passed Senate , yeas 46, nays 0. S.J. 352 .

  24. 2026-02-23 Iowa Legislature

    Amendment S-5023 filed, adopted. S.J. 352 .

  25. 2026-02-23 Iowa Legislature

    Amendment S-5022 filed, lost. S.J. 351 .

  26. 2026-02-05 Iowa Legislature

    Committee report, approving bill. S.J. 216 .

  27. 2026-02-05 Iowa Legislature

    Introduced, placed on calendar. S.J. 211 .

Official Summary Text

A bill for an act requiring boards of directors of school districts, governing boards of charter schools, and authorities in charge of accredited nonpublic schools to adopt policies related to exempting student absences for school-sponsored activities, programs, competitions, and projects. (Formerly SSB 3041 .) Effective date: 07/01/2026.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
STATE OF IOWA
KIM REYNOLDS
GOVERNOR
May 19, 2026
The Honorable Paul Pate
Secretary of State of Iowa
State Capitol
DesMoines, Iowa 50319
Dear Mr. Secretary,
I hereby transmit:
Senate File 2219, an Act requiring boards of directors of school districts, goveming
boards of charter schools, and authorities in charge of accredited nonpublic schools to
adopt policies related to exempting student absences for school-sponsored activities,
programs, competitions, and projects.
The above Senate File is hereby approved on this date.
Sincerely,
Kim 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
MAINTAI imnninnrar"'r
NKRAL ASSEMBIA
Senate File 2219
AN ACT
REQUIRING BOARDS OF DIRECTORS OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS, GOVERNING
BOARDS OF CHARTER SCHOOLS, AND AUTHORITIES IN CHARGE OF
ACCREDITED NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS TO ADOPT POLICIES RELATED TO
EXEMPTING STUDENT ABSENCES FOR SCHOOL-SPONSORED ACTIVITIES,
PROGRAMS, COMPETITIONS, AND PROJECTS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
Section 1. Section 256E.7, subsection 2, Code 2026, is
amended by adding the following new paragraph:
NEW PARAGRAPH. Ofir, Be subject to and comply with the
requirements of section 299.1, subsection 5, relating
to absences from school because of involvement in a
school-sponsored activity, program, competition, or project in
the same manner as a school district.
Sec. 2. Section 299.1, Code 2026, is amended by adding the
following new subsection:
NEW SUBSECTION. 5. The board of directors of each public
school district and the governing body of each accredited
nonpublic school shall adopt a policy that requires the school
district or the accredited nonpublic school to grant a student
an exempt absence when the student is absent from school
because of the student's involvement in a school-sponsored
activity, program, competition, or project. The policy shall
also require the school district or accredited nonpublic school
to allow a student who is absent from school because of the
student's involvement in a school-sponsored activity, program.
Senate File 2219, p. 2
competition, or project to make up any classwork the student
was not able to complete as a result of the absence
AMY SINCgAIR
President of the Senate
PAT GRASSLEY
Speaker of t
I hereby certify that this bill originated in the Senate and
is known as Senate File 2219, Ninety-first General Assembly.
W. CHARLES SMITHSON
Secretary o^the Senate
Approved 2026
KIMlREYNOLDS
Governor