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Read. Follow. Verify.Iowa authorizes school districts to offer elective social studies courses on religious scripture
Last action · January 21, 2026: Subcommittee recommends passage.
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What This Bill Would Do
Senate File 510 requires the state board of education to set course standards for elective social studies classes focusing on the Hebrew Scriptures, Old Testament, or New Testament for students in grades 9 through 12. School districts may offer these courses if recommended by a and approved by a majority vote of the school board. The legislation mandates that these courses adhere to religious neutrality guidelines and permits students to use translations other than the one chosen by the school.
Changes curriculum options for high school students by establishing a framework for public schools to offer academic courses on biblical texts while prohibiting religious indoctrination or the mandate of a single translation.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
School districts
School districts are authorized to offer new elective social studies courses on religious scripture following school board approval.
Students in grades nine through twelve
Students gain the option to enroll in elective courses covering biblical scriptures with flexibility in text translations.
Key Facts
- The state board of education must adopt rules establishing course standards for elective social studies courses on the Hebrew Scriptures, Old Testament, or New Testament for students in grades 9 through 12.
- School districts may offer and teach these elective courses if recommended by the school improvement advisory committee and approved by a majority vote of the school board.
- Enrolled students are not required to use a specific translation as the sole text and may use a translation other than the one chosen by the teacher or district.
- School improvement advisory committees or school principals may authorize the display of historic artifacts, monuments, symbols, and texts, including religious materials, if consistent with educational purposes and legal guidelines.
Show all 5 facts
- Courses must adhere to federal and state guidelines regarding religious neutrality, recognizing student perspectives without endorsing, favoring, promoting, or showing hostility toward any religion or nonreligious perspective.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which grade levels are eligible to take the elective scripture courses?
Are students forced to use a specific religious text or translation?
What else do you want to know?
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently passed chamber. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Law.
Procedural history
22 actions- Jan 21, 2026Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee recommends passage.
- Jan 20, 2026SenateSubcommittee Meeting: 01/21/2026 8:30AM Senate Lounge.
- Jan 15, 2026SenateSubcommittee: Salmon, Pike, and Trone Garriott. S.J. 106 .
- Jan 15, 2026Iowa Legislature* * * * * END OF 2025 ACTIONS * * * * *
- Jun 16, 2025SenateCommitteeReferred to Education. S.J. 1057 .
- Apr 3, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to Education. H.J. 896 .
Show 16 earlier actions
- Apr 3, 2025SenatePlaced on calendar under unfinished business. S.J. 689 .
- Mar 7, 2025HouseIntroducedIntroduced, placed on calendar. H.J. 561 .
- Mar 7, 2025Iowa LegislatureCommittee report approving bill, renumbered as HF 845 .
- Mar 4, 2025HouseCommittee vote: Yeas, 14. Nays, 9. H.J. 528 .
- Mar 4, 2025HouseCommittee report, recommending passage. H.J. 528 .
- Mar 4, 2025SenateCommittee report approving bill, renumbered as SF 510 . S.J. 406 .
- Mar 4, 2025SenateCommittee report, approving bill. S.J. 406 .
- Mar 4, 2025SenateIntroducedIntroduced, placed on calendar. S.J. 403 .
- Feb 26, 2025Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee recommends passage.
- Feb 24, 2025Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee Meeting: 02/26/2025 12:00PM RM 102.
- Feb 20, 2025HouseSubcommittee: Fett, Bradley and Wessel-Kroeschell. H.J. 406 .
- Feb 18, 2025HouseIntroducedIntroduced, referred to Education. H.J. 345 .
- Feb 13, 2025Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee recommends passage.
- Feb 3, 2025Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee Meeting: 02/13/2025 8:00AM Room 315.
- Jan 28, 2025SenateSubcommittee: Salmon, Campbell, and Trone Garriott. S.J. 154 .
- Jan 27, 2025SenateIntroducedIntroduced, referred to Education. S.J. 141 .
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.legis.iowa.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance60How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy75Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz45Current news / social attention level
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