IA HSB60

Private institutions of higher education participating in the Iowa tuition grant program are prohibited from establishing, sustaining, supporting, or staffing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices, except as otherwise required by federal or state law or accreditation standards

The prohibition does not apply to academic course instruction, student or faculty research and creative works, registered student organization activities, guest speakers with short-term engagements, or mental/physical health services provided by licensed professionals

Any person may report a potential violation to the attorney general, who must notify the Department of Education and the institution within 15 days; the institution then has 30 days to either correct the violation or provide documentation that no violation occurred

Institutions that fail to correct a violation or demonstrate compliance to the attorney general's satisfaction become ineligible for the Iowa tuition grant program starting the next academic year; eligibility can be restored once compliance is achieved

The bill amends Iowa Code section 256.183 to require accredited private institutions and eligible institutions to adopt a compliance policy with the new chapter 261K requirements