Noncitizen permit to carry applicants background check information scope expansion provision

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jeff Howe and 4 co-sponsors

The bill directs the Department of Education to support robotics CTSOs with resources and permits certain athletic organizations to sponsor interscholastic robotics contests using

Referred to Judiciary and Public Safety

#firearmsandweapons #government-local

Main purpose

SF 278 promotes and clarifies support for robotics extracurricular activities in Iowa public (and some nonpublic) schools by (1) directing the Iowa Department of Education (DE) to provide technical assistance and resources to school districts on chartering career and technical student organizations (CTSOs) — including robotics-focused CTSOs — that comply with federal Perkins Act requirements and state board rules, and (2) authorizing certain high school athletic organizations to sponsor or administer interscholastic robotics contests.

Key provisions

Amends Iowa Code §256.9 by adding new subsection 69:

Requires the Department of Education to provide educational resources and technical assistance to school districts on chartering CTSOs that comply with the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. §2301 et seq.) and applicable state board rules.
Explicitly includes CTSOs related to robotics and support for robotics teams and competitions.

Creates new Iowa Code §280.13D (High school athletic organizations — robotics):

Permits an “organization” (as defined in §280.13) that receives school-district moneys to pay dues/membership fees — or that receives state-originating moneys for nonpublic schools to pay such dues — to sponsor or administer interscholastic contests or competitions related to robotics.
Clarifies this authorization does not prevent such organizations from sponsoring other interscholastic contests.

Who is affected

Iowa Department of Education: tasked with providing technical assistance and educational resources.

Local school districts and school administrators: recipients of DE assistance when establishing/chartering CTSOs or robotics programs.

Career and technical student organizations and robotics teams/competitions: eligible for clearer state support and alignment with Perkins requirements.

High school athletic organizations (per §280.13): newly authorized to sponsor or administer robotics contests where they receive district or state-originating funds to cover dues/memberships.

Nonpublic schools: may be affected insofar as state-originating funds used to pay dues permit participation in organization-sponsored robotics activities.

Procedural/timeline notes

Introduced Feb 12, 2025; passed both chambers unanimously (Senate 46–0 on Feb 18; House 95–0 on Mar 4); enrolled and signed by Governor May 27, 2025. Now codified as Chapter 102 of 2025 Acts.

The bill does not include a separate appropriation; no specific implementation dates or funding provisions are specified in the text.

Potential impact

Low-to-moderate administrative workload for DE to develop and deliver technical assistance; no explicit funding provided.

Likely to increase formation and sustainability of school robotics CTSOs, broaden opportunities for interscholastic robotics contests, and clarify organizational authority to sponsor such events — potentially expanding student access to robotics and CTE experiences.

Bill