A bill for an act relating to students who are pregnant or who recently gave birth who attend state institutions of higher education governed by the board of regents and community colleges. (Formerly SF 12 .) Effective date: 07/01/2025.

STATE OF IOWA
KIM REYNOLDS
GOVERNOR
June 6, 2025
The Honorable Paul Pate
Secretary of State of Iowa
State Capitol
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Dear Mr. Secretary,
I hereby transmit:
Senate File 288, an Act relating to students who are pregnant or who recently gave birth
who attend state institutions of higher education governed by the board of regents and
community colleges.
The above Senate File is hereby approved on this date.
Sinceiely,
KimMynold
Governor of Iowa
cc: Secretary of the- Senate
Clerk of the House
STATE CAPITOL DES MOINES, IOWA 50319 515.281.5211 WWW.GOVERNOR.IOWA.GOV
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Senate File 288
AN ACT
RELATING TO STUDENTS WHO ARE PREGNANT OR WHO RECENTLY GAVE BIRTH
WHO ATTEND STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION GOVERNED
BY THE BOARD OF REGENTS AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
Section 1. NEW SECTION. 261K.1 Student parents at
institutions.
1. For the purposes of this section, unless the context
otherwise requires:
a. - Institution - means an institution of higher education
governed by the state board of regents or a community college
established under chapter 260C. " Institution" also includes
Senate File 288, p. 2
the faculty, staff, and other employees of such institution of
higher education or community college established under chapter
260C.
b. ' Reasonable accommodations - includes but is not limited
to all of the following:
( 1) Taking additional health and safety measures.
( 2) Allowing a student to reschedule tests and assignment
due dates that are missed for reasons related to the student's
pregnancy.
( 3) Allowing a student to take a leave of absence.
( 4) Excusing absences for reasons deemed medically
necessary due to the pregnancy.
c. " Student - means a biological female.
2. An institution shall not require a student enrolled
in a course of study or research activity to take a leave
of absence, withdraw from a program, or limit the student's
participation in academic activities solely due to pregnancy.
An institution shall make reasonable accommodations to a
pregnant student to allow the student to complete a course of
study or research.
3. a. An institution shall allow a student who is pregnant
or has recently given birth an additional, reasonable period of
time to take examinations that is consistent with the policies
of the institution and that is mutually agreed to by the
student and the institution.
b. An institution shall allow a student who is pregnant or
has recently given birth an additional, reasonable period of
time to complete a degree or candidacy for a degree that is
consistent with the policies of the institution and that is
mutually agreed to by the student and the institution.
4. An institution shall allow a student who is pregnant
or has recently given birth to take a leave of absence for a
reasonable period of time that is consistent with the policies
of the institution and that is mutually agreed to by the
student and the institution. Following the leave of absence,
the student shall be allowed to return to the student's program
with the same standing as the student left to the extent
reasonably possible.
Senate File 288, p. 3
5. The institution employee charged with coordination
of the institution's compliance with Title IX of the federal
Education Amendments Act of 1972 shall maintain a system to
receive and investigate complaints from students alleging a
violation of this section.
6. An institution shall do all of the following:
a. Maintain a written policy for students on pregnancy
discrimination and procedures for addressing pregnancy
discrimination complaints under this section and the federal
Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, 20 U.S.C. § 1681 et
seq. The institution shall provide a copy of the policy to
institution faculty, staff, and employees in required training.
The institution shall provide a copy of the policy to all
students attending orientation at the institution.
b. Prominently post notice of the protections afforded to
pregnant students and students who have recently given birth
under the federal Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, 20
U.S.C. § 1681 et seq., on the institution's internet site.
c. Provide information concerning the protections afforded
to pregnant students and students who have recently given birth
under the federal Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, 20
U.S.C. § 1681 et seq., through the institution's medical center
and health center to a student upon the student's request and
when otherwise appropriate.
d. Assign responsibility for pregnancy and parenting support
and protection to an office of the institution other than
the office responsible for coordination of the institution's
compliance with Title IX of the federal Education Amendments
Act of 1972. The institution shall post the name, location,
and contact information of the responsible office on the
institution's internet site. Responsibilities assigned to the
office pursuant to this paragraph shall include but not be
limited to:
( 1) Maintaining current knowledge of the provisions of this
section.
( 2) Overseeing institution compliance with this section.
( 3) Understanding and publicizing topics related to
pregnancy and parenting, including but not limited to child
care availability, breastfeeding accommodations, and pregnancy
Senate File 288, p. 4
and parenting assistance from public and private providers, in
order to enhance campus life and academic performance.
7. This section does not apply to a student with respect to
the student's employment by an institution.
AMY SI
President President of the Senate
4 PAT GRASSLEY
Speaker of tWe House
I hereby certify that this bill originated in the Senate and
is known as Senate File 288, Ninety-first General Assembly.
Approved , 2025
(✓ li -4 0 4 W. CHARLES SMITHSON
Secre ary . the Senate
KIM
Governor