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SF 2044IOWASession 2025-2026State BillSigned into law

Enacted

Iowa law requires school districts and charter schools to establish student discipline policies for violent and nonviolent disruptions and grants teachers classroom removal authority

Original title: A bill for an act relating to the responsibilities of school districts and charter schools related to the discipline of students who cause violent or nonviolent disruptions.(See SF 2428 .)

Last action · June 1, 2026: Signed by Governor . S.J. 1032 .Sponsor: Kerry Gruenhagen

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

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What This Bill Does

School districts and charter schools must adopt disciplinary policies for violent and nonviolent student disruptions, including mandatory classroom removal, s, and teacher consent requirements for student returns. The law applies to public schools and charter schools across grade levels.

Why it matters

Teachers gain explicit authority to remove disrupting students for at least 30 minutes, and principals cannot return a student to a classroom without the teacher's consent or a placement committee override, changing how daily classroom management and disciplinary appeals operate.

Background

Senate File 2044 was introduced in the Iowa General Assembly during the 91st General Assembly session by Senator Gruenhagen. context
Iowa school discipline laws govern how local educational agencies handle disruptive student behavior, special education requirements, and teacher safety. context

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Teachers

Teachers gain explicit authority to remove students causing nonviolent or violent disruptions from their classrooms and must consent before a removed student returns.

Directly affected

Students

Students face mandatory classroom removal, potential suspension, expulsion, or alternative placement for violent or nonviolent disruptions, along with required behavioral planning for repeated infractions.

Directly affected

School Districts and Charter Schools

School districts and charter schools must adopt, publish, and implement updated discipline policies and establish placement review committees at each attendance center.

Directly affected

Parents or Legal Guardians

Parents or legal guardians must provide written consent before required counseling sessions and must participate in meetings for repeated nonviolent disruptions.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens when a student causes a nonviolent disruption in class?

A teacher is authorized to remove the student from the classroom and place them under the principal's supervision for at least 30 minutes. The student must be allowed to make up missed work.

Who sits on the placement review committee for an attendance center?

The committee consists of two teachers chosen by the 's teachers and one professional staff member chosen by the principal.

Can a principal override a teacher's refusal to let an assaulting student back into class?

No. The and principal do not have the authority to return a student to a classroom if the student assaulted the teacher and the teacher does not consent.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

42 actions

Jun 1, 2026SenateEnrolled
Signed by Governor . S.J. 1032 .
May 20, 2026Iowa Legislature
Fiscal note.
May 18, 2026Senate
Reported correctly enrolled, signed by President and Speaker, and sent to Governor. S.J. 1028 .
Apr 29, 2026House
Message from House. S.J. 924 .
Apr 29, 2026House
Immediate message. H.J. 1042 .
Apr 29, 2026HouseFloor
Passed House , yeas 87, nays 4. H.J. 1036 .

Show 36 earlier actions

Apr 29, 2026HouseFloor
House concurred in Senate amendment H-8399 . H.J. 1036 .
Apr 23, 2026Iowa Legislature
Fiscal note.
Apr 22, 2026House
Senate amendment H-8399 filed. H.J. 987 .
Apr 22, 2026House
Message from Senate. H.J. 977 .
Apr 22, 2026Senate
Immediate message. S.J. 873 .
Apr 22, 2026SenateFloor
Passed Senate , yeas 44, nays 0. S.J. 870 .
Apr 22, 2026SenateFloor
Senate concurred with S-5166 , as amended. S.J. 870 .
Apr 22, 2026SenateFloor
Amendment S-5207 to S-5166 filed, adopted. S.J. 869 .
Apr 14, 2026Iowa Legislature
Fiscal note.
Apr 8, 2026House
Message from House, with amendment S-5166 . S.J. 748 .
Apr 7, 2026House
Immediate message. H.J. 835 .
Apr 7, 2026HouseFloor
Passed House , yeas 89, nays 4. H.J. 826 .
Apr 7, 2026HouseFloor
Amendment H-8306 adopted, as amended. H.J. 826 .
Apr 7, 2026HouseFloor
Amendment H-8323 to amendment H-8306 filed, adopted. H.J. 825 .
Apr 7, 2026House
Amendment H-8306 filed. H.J. 825 .
Mar 26, 2026House
Placed on calendar under unfinished business. H.J. 760 .
Mar 19, 2026House
Placed on calendar. H.J. 705 .
Mar 19, 2026House
Committee vote: Yeas, 16. Nays, 7. H.J. 705 .
Mar 19, 2026House
Committee report, recommending passage. H.J. 705 .
Mar 18, 2026Iowa Legislature
Subcommittee recommends passage.
Mar 17, 2026Iowa Legislature
Subcommittee Meeting: 03/18/2026 12:30PM RM 304.
Mar 17, 2026House
Subcommittee: Wheeler, Hayes and Matson. H.J. 683 .
Mar 13, 2026HouseIntroduced
Read first time, referred to Education. H.J. 670 .
Mar 11, 2026House
Message from Senate. H.J. 635 .
Mar 10, 2026Senate
Immediate message. S.J. 541 .
Mar 10, 2026SenateFloor
Passed Senate , yeas 45, nays 0. S.J. 540 .
Mar 10, 2026SenateFloor
Amendment S-5087 adopted, as amended. S.J. 539 .
Mar 10, 2026SenateFloor
Amendment S-5088 to S-5087 filed, adopted. S.J. 539 .
Mar 10, 2026Senate
Amendment S-5087 filed. S.J. 539 .
Feb 23, 2026Senate
Committee report, approving bill. S.J. 366 .
Feb 23, 2026SenateIntroduced
Introduced, placed on calendar. S.J. 356 .
Feb 23, 2026Senate
Committee report approving bill, renumbered as SF 2428 . S.J. 366 .
Jan 22, 2026Iowa Legislature
Subcommittee recommends passage.
Jan 21, 2026Iowa Legislature
Subcommittee Meeting: 01/22/2026 8:30AM Room 315.
Jan 15, 2026Senate
Subcommittee: Gruenhagen, Donahue, and Evans. S.J. 107 .
Jan 13, 2026SenateIntroduced
Introduced, referred to Education. S.J. 64 .

Version history

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Lobbying Activity

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Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

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