This bill amends Iowa's education laws by introducing new provisions that regulate the training and curricula of school districts, specifically prohibiting instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity. It establishes legal consequences for violations, allowing parents, guardians, or school employees to initiate civil actions against school districts. The bill also mandates compliance with new requirements concerning diversity, equity, and inclusion, while explicitly prohibiting the establishment of diversity, equity, and inclusion offices within school districts. Key insertions include definitions for "administrator" and "teacher," as well as processes for reporting violations and penalties for non-compliance, which may involve civil penalties and corrective actions mandated by the court.

Additionally, the bill empowers students, employees of public institutions of higher education, and parents or guardians to seek injunctive relief against these institutions for violations of educational codes related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. If successful, plaintiffs can recover reasonable court costs and attorney fees, with specified civil penalties of $100,000 for higher education institutions and $50,000 for school districts. The bill also outlines enforcement mechanisms, including written warnings and hearings by the Board of Educational Examiners (BOEE), which must revoke the licenses of offending teachers or administrators. Furthermore, the definition of public institutions of higher education is expanded to include community colleges, ensuring uniform application of these restrictions and enforcement measures across all public educational entities.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 256.146, 279.74, 279.87, 279.80