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HSB 62

A bill for an act requiring that a portion of funds for the Iowa tuition grant be awarded to students pursuing majors leading to high-wage and high-demand jobs and including effective date provisions.

2025-2026 Regular Session

The bill directs at least 50% of Iowa Tuition Grant funds to students in high-wage, high-demand majors listed by the Workforce Development Board with IAICU, updated biennially.

Committee report approving bill, renumbered as HF 867.
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Bill Summary · HSB 62

Summary: HSB 62 (Renumbered HF 867) — Iowa Tuition Grant Focus on High-Wage / High-Demand Majors

Overview

HSB 62, introduced January 22, 2025, seeks to modify the Iowa Tuition Grant program (Chapter 256, Subchapter VII, Part 4, Subpart B) by creating a targeted list of high-wage and high-demand majors and dedicating a portion of grant funds to students pursuing those majors. The bill was approved by the committee and renumbered as HF 867 on March 7, 2025, with prior committee action in February and March 2025.

Key collaborators and scope:
- Creates a list of eligible high-wage/high-demand jobs and corresponding majors offered by accredited private institutions (as defined in §256.183).
- The Workforce Development Board, in collaboration with the Iowa Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (IAICU), will develop and maintain the list.
- The list is updated at least biennially.

Main purpose and intent

  • Align the Iowa Tuition Grant program with labor market needs by directing grant funds toward students pursuing majors linked to higher wages and strong demand.
  • Ensure private, accredited institutions play a significant role in supplying graduates for in-demand fields.

Key provisions

Creation and maintenance of the list (new subsection under 84A.1B)

  • The Workforce Development Board, with IAICU, shall create a list of high-wage/high-demand jobs and the corresponding academic majors offered by accredited private institutions.
  • The list must align with the Iowa tuition grant program requirements and definitions for accredited private institutions (per §256.183).
  • The list shall be updated at least every two years.
  • Minimum criteria for included jobs/majors:
    • Entry-level annual salary of at least $40,000.
    • Attainment of a qualifying credential of at least a bachelor’s degree, or attainment of an initial or internship Iowa teaching license issued under chapter 256 via a pathway to licensure offered by an accredited private institution.
    • At least one of the following: 1) Projected annual job openings of at least 250 over the next five years, or 2) Projected annual growth in job openings of at least 1%.

Allocation of grant funds (new paragraph added to §256.189(1))

  • The bill requires awarding no less than 50% of funds available for the Iowa Tuition Grant program each fiscal year to students pursuing majors that correspond to the high-wage/high-demand jobs listed by the Workforce Development Board under §84A.1B(18).

Effective date

  • Immediate effectiveness upon enactment.

Affected parties and impacts

  • Tuition Grant Recipients: Students pursuing listed high-wage/high-demand majors may receive a larger share of grant funds, assuming they meet existing eligibility requirements.
  • Private, Accredited Institutions: Institutions offering the specified majors must align program offerings with the list; may see shifts in applicant funding if their programs are designated as high-wage/high-demand.
  • Workforce Development Board & IAICU: Responsible for developing, updating, and validating the list on a biennial cycle.
  • State/Taxpayers: Potential budgetary impact due to reallocation of grant funds toward prioritized programs; the policy aims to invest in fields with stronger labor market payoffs.

Procedural timeline and status

  • Introduced: January 22, 2025
  • Subcommittee: January–February 2025 (Collins, Konfrst, Shipley)
  • Subcommittee recommendation: February 11, 2025
  • Committee action: February 2025 (recommend passage); March 5, 2025 (committee vote: 7 Yeas, 3 Nays, 1 Excused)
  • Committee report and renumbering: March 7, 2025 (approved, renumbered as HF 867)

Notes

  • The bill emphasizes coordination with private higher education providers and evidence-based labor market projections to guide grant funding.
  • The content references specific statutory definitions (e.g., accredited private institutions in §256.183) and program structure (Iowa Tuition Grant under §256.189), ensuring alignment with existing statutory frameworks.

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

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