IA HF2488

Private institutions of higher education participating in the Iowa Tuition Grant Program would be prohibited from establishing or maintaining diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices

DEI is defined to include efforts to influence faculty or student body composition based on race, sex, color, or ethnicity, as well as trainings or policies designed with reference to race, color, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation

Participating institutions must adopt a compliance policy with the new chapter 261M requirements to remain eligible for the tuition grant program

Exceptions to the DEI office prohibition include offices ensuring legal compliance, academic departments primarily offering courses for degree credit, offices solely engaged in new student recruitment, and registered student organizations

The bill amends Iowa Code sections 256.183 and creates new chapter 261M to establish these requirements and definitions