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STATE OF IOWA
K IM 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:
Senate File 369, an Act requiring students to pass the United States citizenship and
immigration services naturalization civics test as a condition of high school graduation
and high school equivalency diplomas.
The above Senate File is hereby approved on this date.
cc: Secretary of the Senate
Clerk of the House
STATE CAPITOL DES MOINES, IOWA 50319 515.281.5211 WWW.GOVERNOR.IO\X.,\.GOV
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Senate File 369
AN ACT
REQUIRING STUDENTS TO PASS THE UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP
AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES NATURALIZATION CIVICS TEST AS
A CONDITION OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION AND HIGH SCHOOL
EQUIVALENCY DIPLOMAS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
Section 1. Section 256.9, Code 2025, is amended by adding
the following new subsections:
NEW SUBSECTION. 69. a. Develop and distribute to school
districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and
innovation zone schools a test in multiple-choice format that
consists of all of the questions contained in the most recent
version of the civics test developed by the United States
citizenship and immigration services.
b. On or before the January 31 immediately subsequent to
each general election which is a presidential election, update
the test described in paragraph ' a' and distribute the updated
test to school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter
schools, and innovation zone schools.
NEW SUBSECTION. 70. a. Study the relationship between high
school graduation rates and the number of students who attain a
passing score on the civics test described in section 280.9A,
subsection 1A, and submit a report that contains the results of
the study to the general assembly on or before June 30, 2029.
b. This subsection is repealed July 1, 2029.
Sec. 2. Section 256E.7, subsection 2, Code 2025, is amended
Senate File 369, p. 2
by adding the following new paragraph:
NEW PARAGRAPH. Or. Be subject to and comply with the
requirements of section 280.9A, subsection 1A, related to the
administration of a civics test in the same manner as a school
district.
Sec. 3. Section 256F.4, subsection 2, Code 2025, is amended
by adding the following new paragraph:
NEW PARAGRAPH. r. Be subject to and comply with the
requirements of section 280.9A, subsection 1A, related to the
administration of a civics test in the same manner as a school
district.
Sec. 4. Section 259A.1, Code 2025, is amended to read as
follows:
259A.1 Assessment of competency.
The department of education shall cause to be made available
for qualified individuals a high school equivalency diploma.
The diploma shall be issued en the basis ef defaenstraÇe-d to
qualified individuals who successfully pass the civics test as
set forth in section 280.9A, and demonstrate competence in all
of the following core areas: reading, language arts, literacy,
mathematics, science, and social studies.
Sec. 5. Section 280.9A, Code 2025, is amended by adding the
following new subsection:
NEW SUBSECTION. 1A. a. Commencing with the school year
beginning July 1, 2026, the board of directors of each local
public school district and the authorities in charge of each
accredited nonpublic school shall administer to students
enrolled in grades nine through twelve the most recent version
of the test distributed to the school district or accredited
nonpublic school by the director of the department of education
pursuant to section 256.9, subsection 69, in written or
electronic format, and shall ensure that each student receives
one passing score on the test as a condition of graduation.
The board of directors of a local public school district and
the authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school
shall not be required to administer the test to a student who
has received a passing score on the test.
b. A student must answer at least sixty percent of the
questions on the test described in paragraph - a - correctly
Senate File 369, p. 3
to attain a passing score. A student who fails to answer at
least sixty percent of the questions on such test correctly may
retake the test as many times as is necessary.
c. The board of directors of a local public school district
or the authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school
shall not impose or collect any fee in connection with the
administration of the test described in paragraph - a - .
d. The board of directors of a local public school district
and the authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school
may do all of the following:
( 1) Modify the test described in paragraph " a - for a student
who has an individualized education program or a plan under
section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. § 794.
( 2) Develop and administer an alternate test to a student
who has a significant intellectual disability.
( 3) Modify the test described in paragraph - a - for a student
who is an English learner as defined in section 280.4.
e. On or before June 30 of each year, the board of directors
of each local public school district and the authorities in
charge of each accredited nonpublic school shall submit the
results of the test described in paragraph - a - to the department
of education.
f. The state board of education shall adopt rules pursuant
to chapter 17A to administer this subsection.
•
• - elfe•••
AMY SINCL
President of the Senate
I 4 //__ •/ PAT GRASSLEY
Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that this bill originated in the Senate and
is known as Senate File 369, Ninety-first General Assembly.
W. CHARLES SMITHSON
Approved , 2025