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HF 870

A bill for an act relating to students who attend a course in religious instruction that is provided by a private organization, including by modifying provisions related to compulsory education and chronic absenteeism.

2025-2026 Regular Session

Allows students to be excused for private religious instruction during the school day, with records, limited weekly hours, and no impact on truancy or chronic absenteeism.

Signed by Governor.
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Bill Summary · HF 870

Summary — HF 870 (signed June 6, 2025)

Status: Signed by Governor (approved June 6, 2025).
Introduced: March 7, 2025. Passed House (Mar 18, 2025) and Senate (Apr 15, 2025).

Purpose

HF 870 creates a statutory framework allowing public and accredited nonpublic school students to be excused from school during the school day to attend courses in religious instruction provided by private organizations, while clarifying how such absences are treated for compulsory attendance and chronic absenteeism purposes. It also permits (but does not require) certain schools to adopt credit-awarding policies for such courses under specified limits.

Key provisions

  • New Section 299.1D — Absences for private religious instruction:

    • A student may be excused from compulsory attendance while attending a private-provider religious instruction course if all listed conditions are met.
    • Notification: A parent/guardian/legal custodian (or an emancipated minor) must notify the student’s public or accredited nonpublic school that the student will attend the course.
    • Time limit: The course cannot require absence from school for more than five hours per week; schools must excuse at least one hour per week upon request (but no more than five hours/week).
    • Attendance verification: The private organization must keep attendance records and make them available to the school to verify participation.
    • Transportation: Must be provided by the private organization, the parent/guardian/custodian, or the student (not the school).
    • Liability: The private organization must assume responsibility and liability for the child while attending the course.
    • School funds: School districts/accredited nonpublic schools may not expend money on the course (except de minimis administrative costs for processing notifications and tracking compliance).
    • Location: The course may not be held on school district property unless the local board authorizes it under section 297.9.
    • Make‑up work: The student must agree to make up any missed school work.

  • Compulsory attendance and truancy:

    • Section 299.1 and 299.2 are amended to exclude time spent attending courses under 299.1D from compulsory attendance/truancy counts.

  • Chronic absenteeism:

    • The statutory definition of “chronically absent” (more than 10% of days or hours in a grading period) is amended so absences for courses under 299.1D do not count toward that threshold.

  • Remedies:

    • Parents, guardians, custodians, or emancipated students may bring a civil action against a school district for violations of the section. Prevailing plaintiffs are entitled to injunctive relief, actual damages, and reasonable court costs and attorney fees.

  • Academic credit (per bill text):

    • School districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools may adopt policies to award academic credit for qualifying religious instruction courses. If credit is awarded, the school may not base that determination on the religious content; instead it must consider classroom hours, assessment methods, and student performance.

Who is affected

  • Students (including emancipated minors) who wish to attend privately provided religious instruction during the school day.
  • Parents/guardians/legal/actual custodians who must provide notifications and arrange transportation.
  • Private organizations providing religious instruction (must maintain records, assume liability).
  • Public school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools (administrative duties, policy decisions, and limits on expenditures).
  • School boards (authority to allow courses on school property under existing law).

Practical effects and considerations

  • Absences for qualifying religious instruction will not trigger truancy or chronic absenteeism sanctions under Iowa law.
  • Schools must process notifications and may track attendance but cannot fund the instruction or provide transportation.
  • Private providers carry operational and liability responsibilities; documentation is required for verification.
  • The bill creates a private right of action, potentially leading to litigation if schools fail to comply.

Effective on approval (signed June 6, 2025).

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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