Bill Text: IA SSB1065 | 2025-2026 | 91st General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: A bill for an act relating to electronic devices in schools, including student access during instructional hours, school safety plans, and instruction related to the effects of social media in grades six through eight, and including effective date provisions.
Spectrum: Committee Bill
Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-06 - Subcommittee recommends passage. [SSB1065 Detail]
Download: Iowa-2025-SSB1065-Introduced.html
Senate
Study
Bill
1065
-
Introduced
SENATE/HOUSE
FILE
_____
BY
(PROPOSED
GOVERNOR
BILL)
A
BILL
FOR
An
Act
relating
to
electronic
devices
in
schools,
including
1
student
access
during
instructional
hours,
school
safety
2
plans,
and
instruction
related
to
the
effects
of
social
3
media
in
grades
six
through
eight,
and
including
effective
4
date
provisions.
5
BE
IT
ENACTED
BY
THE
GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
OF
THE
STATE
OF
IOWA:
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Section
1.
Section
256.9,
Code
2025,
is
amended
by
adding
1
the
following
new
subsections:
2
NEW
SUBSECTION
.
69.
Develop
and
distribute
to
school
3
districts,
accredited
nonpublic
schools,
charter
schools,
and
4
innovation
zone
schools
model
policies
that,
if
adopted,
would
5
satisfy
the
school
district’s,
charter
school’s,
or
innovation
6
zone
school’s
responsibilities
under
section
279.87
relating
to
7
policies
governing
student
use
of
personal
electronic
devices.
8
NEW
SUBSECTION
.
70.
Consult
with
the
department
of
health
9
and
human
services
regarding
the
effects
of
social
media
on
10
students
enrolled
in
grades
six
through
eight
and
provide
11
professional
development
support
to
teachers
employed
by
school
12
districts,
charter
schools,
and
innovation
zone
schools
to
13
assist
such
teachers
in
providing
the
instruction
related
14
to
the
effects
of
social
media
described
in
section
256.11,
15
subsections
3
and
4.
16
Sec.
2.
Section
256.11,
subsections
3
and
4,
Code
2025,
are
17
amended
to
read
as
follows:
18
3.
a.
The
All
of
the
following
areas
shall
be
taught
in
19
grades
one
through
six:
20
(1)
English-language
arts
,
social
.
21
(2)
Social
studies
,
mathematics,
science,
health,
physical
.
22
(3)
Mathematics.
23
(4)
Science.
24
(5)
Health.
The
health
curriculum
shall
include
all
of
the
25
following:
26
(a)
The
characteristics
of
communicable
diseases.
27
(b)
In
grade
six,
instruction
related
to
the
effects
of
28
social
media.
29
(6)
Physical
education
,
traffic
.
30
(7)
Traffic
safety
,
music,
visual
.
31
(8)
Music.
32
(9)
Visual
art
,
and,
subject
.
33
(10)
Subject
to
section
279.80
,
age-appropriate
and
34
research-based
human
growth
and
development.
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b.
Computer
science
instruction
incorporating
the
standards
1
established
under
section
256.7,
subsection
26
,
paragraph
2
“a”
,
subparagraph
(4),
shall
be
offered
in
at
least
one
grade
3
level
commencing
with
the
school
year
beginning
July
1,
2023.
4
The
health
curriculum
shall
include
the
characteristics
of
5
communicable
diseases.
6
c.
The
state
board
as
part
of
accreditation
standards
shall
7
adopt
curriculum
definitions
for
implementing
the
elementary
8
program.
9
4.
a.
The
All
of
the
following
shall
be
taught
in
grades
10
seven
and
eight:
11
(1)
English-language
arts
;
social
.
12
(2)
Social
studies,
including
instruction
related
to
13
civics
;
mathematics;
science;
health;
age-appropriate
.
14
(3)
Mathematics.
15
(4)
Science.
16
(5)
Health.
The
health
curriculum
shall
include
all
of
the
17
following:
18
(a)
Age-appropriate
and
research-based
information
19
regarding
the
characteristics
of
sexually
transmitted
diseases.
20
(b)
Instruction
related
to
the
effects
of
social
media.
21
(6)
Age-appropriate
and
research-based
human
growth
and
22
development
;
career
.
23
(7)
Career
exploration
and
development
;
physical
.
24
(8)
Physical
education
;
music;
and
visual
.
25
(9)
Music.
26
(10)
Visual
art.
27
b.
Computer
science
instruction
incorporating
the
standards
28
established
under
section
256.7,
subsection
26
,
paragraph
“a”
,
29
subparagraph
(4),
shall
be
offered
in
at
least
one
grade
level
30
commencing
with
the
school
year
beginning
July
1,
2023.
Career
31
exploration
and
development
shall
be
designed
so
that
students
32
are
appropriately
prepared
to
create
an
individual
career
33
and
academic
plan
pursuant
to
section
279.61
,
incorporate
34
foundational
career
and
technical
education
concepts
aligned
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with
the
six
career
and
technical
education
service
areas
as
1
defined
in
subsection
5
,
paragraph
“h”
,
incorporate
relevant
2
twenty-first
century
skills
to
facilitate
career
readiness,
3
and
introduce
students
to
career
opportunities
within
the
4
local
community
and
across
this
state.
The
health
curriculum
5
shall
include
age-appropriate
and
research-based
information
6
regarding
the
characteristics
of
sexually
transmitted
diseases.
7
c.
The
state
board
as
part
of
accreditation
standards
shall
8
adopt
curriculum
definitions
for
implementing
the
program
in
9
grades
seven
and
eight.
However,
this
10
d.
This
subsection
shall
not
apply
to
the
teaching
of
career
11
exploration
and
development
in
nonpublic
schools.
12
Sec.
3.
Section
256E.7,
subsection
2,
paragraph
g,
Code
13
2025,
is
amended
by
adding
the
following
new
subparagraph:
14
NEW
SUBPARAGRAPH
.
(3)
The
educational
standards
15
established
in
section
256.11,
subsections
3
and
4,
related
to
16
the
inclusion
of
instruction
related
to
the
effects
of
social
17
media
in
the
health
curriculum.
18
Sec.
4.
Section
256E.7,
subsection
2,
Code
2025,
is
amended
19
by
adding
the
following
new
paragraph:
20
NEW
PARAGRAPH
.
0t.
Be
subject
to
and
comply
with
the
21
requirements
of
section
279.87
relating
to
policies
governing
22
student
use
of
personal
electronic
devices
in
the
same
manner
23
as
a
school
district.
24
Sec.
5.
Section
256F.4,
subsection
2,
Code
2025,
is
amended
25
by
adding
the
following
new
paragraphs:
26
NEW
PARAGRAPH
.
r.
Be
subject
to
and
comply
with
the
27
requirements
of
section
256.11,
subsections
3
and
4,
relating
28
to
the
inclusion
of
instruction
related
to
the
effects
of
29
social
media
in
the
health
curriculum.
30
NEW
PARAGRAPH
.
s.
Be
subject
to
and
comply
with
the
31
requirements
of
section
279.87
relating
to
policies
governing
32
student
use
of
personal
electronic
devices
in
the
same
manner
33
as
a
school
district.
34
Sec.
6.
NEW
SECTION
.
279.87
Limitation
on
the
use
of
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personal
electronic
devices.
1
1.
Commencing
with
the
school
year
beginning
July
1,
2025,
2
the
board
of
directors
of
each
school
district
shall
adopt
3
policies
regarding
student
use
of
personal
electronic
devices
4
during
school
hours
that
restrict
student
use
of
such
devices
5
during
classroom
instructional
time.
The
policies
must
meet
6
all
of
the
following
requirements:
7
a.
Identify
policies
and
information
related
to
various
8
educational
devices
and
technologies
that
will
be
made
9
available
to
students
for
instructional
purposes.
10
b.
Identify
the
methods
that
a
parent
or
guardian
of
11
a
student
may
use
to
communicate
with
the
student
during
12
school
hours
or
while
the
student
is
participating
in
a
13
school-sponsored
activity.
14
c.
Identify
the
methods
that
a
parent
or
guardian
of
a
15
student
may
use
to
communicate
with
the
student
during
an
16
emergency
situation.
17
d.
Include
protocols
that
the
school
district
will
use
to
18
securely
store
a
student’s
personal
electronic
device
when
such
19
device
is
in
the
possession
of
the
school
district.
20
e.
Specify
the
discipline
associated
with
a
student’s
21
violation
of
the
policies,
including
the
discipline
associated
22
with
a
student’s
use
of
a
personal
electronic
device
during
23
classroom
instruction
or
during
the
administration
of
an
24
assessment.
25
f.
Establish
a
process
through
which
a
student’s
parent
26
or
guardian
may
petition
the
school
district
to
allow
the
27
student
to
maintain
access
to
the
student’s
personal
electronic
28
device
during
the
portion
of
the
school
day
in
which
classroom
29
instructional
time
is
delivered
if
the
student’s
parent
or
30
guardian
can
establish
that
there
is
a
legitimate
reason
31
related
to
the
student’s
physical
or
mental
health
for
the
32
student
to
maintain
access
to
the
device
during
such
time.
33
g.
Allow
a
student
who
has
an
individualized
education
34
program,
or
a
plan
under
section
504
of
the
federal
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Rehabilitation
Act,
29
U.S.C.
§794,
to
maintain
access
to
the
1
student’s
personal
electronic
device
during
the
portion
of
the
2
school
day
in
which
classroom
instructional
time
is
delivered
3
if
the
student’s
individualized
education
program,
or
plan
4
under
section
504
of
the
federal
Rehabilitation
Act,
29
U.S.C.
5
§794,
requires
the
student
to
maintain
such
access.
6
2.
The
board
of
directors
of
a
school
district
may
adopt
7
policies
that
limit
student
use
of
personal
electronic
devices
8
during
school
hours,
including
the
use
of
such
devices
during
9
classroom
instructional
time,
that
are
more
stringent
than
the
10
model
policies
developed
and
distributed
by
the
director
of
the
11
department
of
education
pursuant
to
section
256.9,
subsection
12
69.
13
3.
For
purposes
of
this
section,
“personal
electronic
14
device”
includes
but
is
not
limited
to
electronic
communication
15
equipment,
mobile
phones,
smart
phones,
video
game
devices,
and
16
portable
media
players.
17
4.
The
state
board
of
education
may
adopt
rules
pursuant
to
18
chapter
17A
to
administer
this
section.
19
Sec.
7.
REVISION
OF
HIGH-QUALITY
EMERGENCY
OPERATIONS
20
PLANS.
21
1.
The
department
of
education
and
the
department
of
public
22
safety
shall
do
all
of
the
following:
23
a.
Consult
regarding
revisions
that
school
districts
need
24
to
make
to
high-quality
emergency
operations
plans
developed
25
pursuant
to
section
280.30
to
take
into
account
the
provisions
26
of
section
279.87,
as
enacted
by
this
Act,
and
revisions
27
that
accredited
nonpublic
schools
may
make
to
such
plans
to
28
take
into
account
policies
regarding
student
use
of
personal
29
electronic
devices
during
school
hours.
30
b.
Provide
support
and
guidance
to
school
districts
31
regarding
how
to
revise
high-quality
emergency
operations
32
plans
developed
pursuant
to
section
280.30
so
that
such
plans
33
are
consistent
with
the
provisions
of
section
279.87,
as
34
enacted
by
this
Act,
and
provide
similar
support
and
guidance
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to
accredited
nonpublic
schools
that
elect
to
adopt
policies
1
regarding
student
use
of
personal
electronic
devices
during
2
school
hours.
3
2.
On
or
before
July
1,
2025,
each
school
district
shall
4
revise
the
school
district’s
high-quality
emergency
operations
5
plans
developed
pursuant
to
section
280.30
so
that
such
plans
6
are
consistent
with
the
provisions
of
section
279.87,
as
7
enacted
by
this
Act.
8
Sec.
8.
STATE
MANDATE
FUNDING
SPECIFIED.
In
accordance
9
with
section
25B.2,
subsection
3,
the
state
cost
of
requiring
10
compliance
with
any
state
mandate
included
in
this
Act
shall
11
be
paid
by
a
school
district
from
state
school
foundation
aid
12
received
by
the
school
district
under
section
257.16.
This
13
specification
of
the
payment
of
the
state
cost
shall
be
deemed
14
to
meet
all
of
the
state
funding-related
requirements
of
15
section
25B.2,
subsection
3,
and
no
additional
state
funding
16
shall
be
necessary
for
the
full
implementation
of
this
Act
17
by
and
enforcement
of
this
Act
against
all
affected
school
18
districts.
19
Sec.
9.
EFFECTIVE
DATE.
The
following,
being
deemed
of
20
immediate
importance,
take
effect
upon
enactment:
21
1.
The
section
of
this
Act
enacting
section
279.87.
22
2.
The
section
of
this
Act
relating
to
the
revision
of
23
high-quality
emergency
operations
plans.
24
3.
The
section
of
this
Act
relating
to
the
specification
of
25
state
mandate
funding.
26
EXPLANATION
27
The
inclusion
of
this
explanation
does
not
constitute
agreement
with
28
the
explanation’s
substance
by
the
members
of
the
general
assembly.
29
This
bill
relates
to
electronic
devices
in
schools,
30
including
student
access
during
instructional
hours,
school
31
safety
plans,
and
instruction
related
to
the
effects
of
social
32
media
in
grades
six
through
eight.
33
The
bill
requires
that
instruction
related
to
the
effects
34
of
social
media
be
incorporated
into
the
health
curriculum
35
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provided
to
students
enrolled
in
grades
six
through
eight
1
in
school
districts,
accredited
nonpublic
schools,
charter
2
schools,
and
innovation
zone
schools.
The
bill
requires
the
3
director
of
the
department
of
education
(DE)
to
consult
with
4
the
department
of
health
and
human
services
regarding
the
5
effects
of
social
media
and
provide
professional
development
6
support
to
teachers
to
assist
such
teachers
in
providing
such
7
instruction
to
students.
8
Commencing
with
the
school
year
beginning
July
1,
2025,
9
the
bill
requires
school
districts,
charter
schools,
and
10
innovation
zone
schools
to
adopt
policies
regarding
student
11
use
of
personal
electronic
devices
during
school
hours.
The
12
bill
establishes
what
the
policies
are
to
include.
The
bill
13
requires
the
director
of
DE
to
develop
and
distribute
to
14
schools
model
policies
that,
if
adopted,
would
satisfy
the
15
school’s
responsibilities
under
these
provisions.
However,
16
schools
may
adopt
policies
that
are
more
stringent
than
these
17
model
policies.
The
bill
defines
“personal
electronic
device”
18
to
include
electronic
communication
equipment,
mobile
phones,
19
smart
phones,
video
game
devices,
and
portable
media
players.
20
These
provisions
take
effect
upon
enactment.
The
bill
requires
21
DE
and
the
department
of
public
safety
to
consult
regarding
22
revisions
that
schools
may
need
to
make
to
high-quality
23
emergency
operations
plans
developed
pursuant
to
Code
section
24
280.30
to
take
into
account
the
policies
adopted
pursuant
to
25
the
bill’s
provisions
and
to
provide
support
and
guidance
26
to
schools
regarding
how
to
revise
high-quality
emergency
27
operations
plans
so
that
such
plans
are
consistent
with
the
28
bill’s
provisions.
The
bill
also
requires
school
districts
to
29
revise
the
high-quality
emergency
operations
plans
on
or
before
30
July
1,
2025,
so
that
such
plans
are
consistent
with
the
bill’s
31
provisions.
These
provisions
take
effect
upon
enactment.
32
The
bill
may
include
a
state
mandate
as
defined
in
Code
33
section
25B.3.
The
bill
requires
that
the
state
cost
of
34
any
state
mandate
included
in
the
bill
be
paid
by
a
school
35
-7-
LSB
1123XL
(10)
91
jda/jh
7/
8
S.F.
_____
H.F.
_____
district
from
state
school
foundation
aid
received
by
the
1
school
district
under
Code
section
257.16.
The
specification
2
is
deemed
to
constitute
state
compliance
with
any
state
mandate
3
funding-related
requirements
of
Code
section
25B.2.
The
4
inclusion
of
this
specification
is
intended
to
reinstate
the
5
requirement
of
political
subdivisions
to
comply
with
any
state
6
mandates
included
in
the
bill.
This
provision
takes
effect
7
upon
enactment.
8
-8-
LSB
1123XL
(10)
91
jda/jh
8/
8
