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Read. Follow. Verify.Iowa Senate File 2331 Establishes a $250 Annual Classroom Supply Stipend for Public School Teachers
Last action · February 16, 2026: Subcommittee: Sinclair, Evans, and Trone Garriott. S.J. 295 .Sponsor: Trone Garriott
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What This Bill Would Do
Iowa school districts must provide a $250 annual classroom supply stipend to each eligible in-person public school teacher starting with the 2026-2027 school year. The state general fund will appropriate the necessary funds to the Department of Education, and payments must be distributed automatically to teachers by September 15 each year without requiring a request.
Eligible public school teachers receive $250 annually for instructional materials, exempt from state income tax, while the state general fund continuously appropriates the necessary moneys to cover the payments.
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.
public school teachers
Eligible in-person teachers receive an annual $250 tax-exempt stipend for classroom supplies disbursed by September 15.
school districts
School districts must identify eligible teachers, distribute the $250 payments automatically, and report eligible counts to the Department of Education.
Department of Education
The Department of Education receives appropriations from the state general fund and distributes stipend moneys to school districts.
Key Facts
- School districts must provide a classroom supply stipend of $250 to each eligible teacher for the school year beginning July 1, 2026, and each succeeding school year.
- An eligible teacher is defined as a teacher who provides instruction primarily in-person and is employed by a school district prior to the beginning of the school year.
- The annual stipend must be paid by the school district to eligible teachers not later than September 15 of each school year through payroll or separate payment without request.
- School districts must report the number of eligible teachers to the Department of Education prior to a specified date and in a prescribed manner.
Show all 9 facts
- Stipend funds may be used only for classroom supplies and materials that directly support student learning, such as books, paper, basic supplies, technology and peripherals, and curriculum materials, and may not be used for personal items.
- Moneys appropriated for the section shall be distributed by the Department of Education to school districts.
- For each fiscal year beginning on or after July 1, 2026, there is appropriated from the general fund of the state to the department of education an amount necessary to pay the classroom supply stipends.
- Stipend moneys received by a school district shall be miscellaneous income under chapter 257 and shall not be included in district cost.
- The stipend provided under this section is exempt from state income tax.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies as an eligible teacher to receive the stipend?
Are teachers required to apply or request the stipend?
Is the $250 classroom supply stipend subject to state income tax?
What can teachers purchase with the stipend money?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
2 actions- Feb 16, 2026SenateSubcommittee: Sinclair, Evans, and Trone Garriott. S.J. 295 .
- Feb 12, 2026SenateIntroducedIntroduced, referred to Education. S.J. 275 .
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.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
www.legis.iowa.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance60How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz35Current news / social attention level
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