DES MOINES — Governor Kim Reynolds signed 17 bills into law today, addressing education, public safety, health care, and state employee benefits.

Key legislation includes SF 369, requiring high school students to pass the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Naturalization Civics Test for graduation. “This ensures Iowa students are prepared to be responsible, engaged citizens,” Reynolds said.

HF 889, the Families First Bill, grants state employees paid parental leave. “This provides crucial bonding time with newborns, joining 24 states and the federal government,” Reynolds stated.

Education reforms include SF 278, supporting robotics extracurriculars with technical assistance and interscholastic contests, and HF 393, adjusting school performance profiles to account for dropout students. HF 835 mandates health care training for school personnel, focusing on students with epilepsy or seizure disorders.

Public safety measures include SF 462, imposing mandatory minimums for felons possessing firearms and enhancing information sharing on prohibited individuals. HF 615 addresses misrepresentation of animals as service animals, and HF 306 penalizes disseminating obscene material to minors.

Health care bills include HF 300, enacting a physician assistant licensure compact, HF 303, regulating prior authorization, and HF 933, supporting pediatric palliative care centers.

Other laws cover grain marketing fees (SF 608), law enforcement academy eligibility for veterans and former officers (HF 901), bullying in schools (HF 865), immunization exemptions (HF 299), state highway operations (HF 1025), and a ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion activities by public entities (HF 856).

The bills, signed today, include effective date and applicability provisions where noted.

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