Bill
SF 647
SF 647 funds Iowa education for FY2025–26, detailing general/agency appropriations (including DOE, DFB, AEAs, broadcasting, and early childhood), with carryforward and antibullying
Note on bill identifier
- The header you supplied lists SF 647 as a “Grounds for recall of state officials amendment” referred to Elections. The legislative text you provided, however, is Iowa Senate File 647 (Chapter 157), an FY 2025–2026 education appropriations act. This summary describes the appropriations act (education funding) reflected in the document package.
Bill at a glance
- Bill: SF 647 (Iowa) — AN ACT making appropriations to the education system for FY 2025–2026 (Chapter 157)
- Introduced: Jan 27 / May 6, 2025 (committee activity May 6)
- Fiscal year covered: July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
- Status highlights: Passed Senate and House (May 12–13, 2025); enrolled and sent to Governor (May 23, 2025); Governor signed with at least one item veto (June 11, 2025). Multiple amendments were filed and adopted in committee and floor action (S‑3144, S‑3157, H‑1344, H‑1345). Companion: HF 1431.
Purpose and intent
- Provide general fund and other appropriations to the Iowa Department for the Blind, Iowa Department of Education, state board of regents programs, and related education initiatives for FY 2026. Fund operational needs, program expansions (early childhood, special education, CTE), student supports, and statewide initiatives (work-based learning, assessments, broadcasting, etc.).
Key provisions and dollar amounts (selected)
- Department for the Blind — Administration: $3,207,190; 88.98 FTE.
- Department of Education — General Administration: $7,073,808; 71.62 FTE. Requires department report on antibullying programming and expenditures by Jan 15, 2026.
- Public Broadcasting Division: $8,165,236; 57.11 FTE.
- Career & Technical Education reimbursement: $2,952,459.
- School Food Service (state match for federal programs): $2,176,797; 26.42 FTE.
- Birth-to-age‑three services expansion (IDEA-related): $1,721,400; includes $383,769 to University of Iowa child health specialty clinics for high‑need infants/toddlers.
- Early Head Start projects: $574,500.
- Student Achievement & Teacher Quality program: $2,990,467; 5.87 FTE.
- Statewide student assessment: $3,000,000 (up to $300,000 to Iowa Testing Programs at UI for nonpublic school administration).
- Statewide clearinghouse for expanding work‑based learning (Future Ready Iowa): $300,000.
- Postsecondary summer classes for high school students (community college partnerships): $600,000. Unspent funds in this line may carry forward to the succeeding fiscal year.
- Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) specialists to support work‑based learning and credential attainment: $9,946,450. Unspent funds may carry forward.
- Amendment H‑1344 added: Area Education Agencies distribution: $5,000,000.
- Amendment H‑1345 increased one specified appropriation from $6,500,000 to $7,500,000 and adjusted another amount from $1,750,185 to $2,750,185 (text reflects increased funding for certain initiatives; exact line items correspond to sections in the bill).
Other program areas funded (brief)
- Attendance center performance / data systems; early reader progression supports; Iowa Reading Research Center; computer science professional development incentives; school‑based children’s mental health training; services for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities; community colleges; Iowa School for the Deaf; Iowa Educational Services for the Blind; STEM collaborative initiatives; therapeutic classroom incentive fund; college student aid administration; and deposits from the Iowa Skilled Worker and Job Creation Fund for specific workforce/STEM purposes.
Who is affected
- K–12 school districts and attendance centers, area education agencies (AEAs), accredited nonpublic schools, community colleges, early childhood service providers, infants/toddlers and families served by IDEA birth–3 programs, the state university testing programs, public broadcasting, special education and related service providers, students (including those in dual enrollment/summer community college classes), and workforce/STEM partnerships.
Procedural/timing notes
- Fiscal year appropriations apply to FY 2025–2026 (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026).
- Select appropriation lines include non‑reversion/carryforward language allowing unencumbered funds to be spent in the succeeding fiscal year.
- Reporting requirement: Dept. of Education antibullying program expenditure report due Jan 15, 2026.
- Multiple amendments changed funding levels and added new distributions (see S‑3144, S‑3157, H‑1344, H‑1345). Governor action included signature with item veto(es) on June 11, 2025.
If you want
- I can produce a line‑by‑line list of all appropriation amounts and FTEs included in the bill, or extract the final enrolled/vetoed text to highlight exact items affected by the Governor’s item veto.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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