Regents review status of five higher-education bills, appropriations timetable and confirmations; next-week legislative committee canceled

Members of the State Board of Regents discussed the status of five higher-education bills, the state budget timetable and upcoming gubernatorial confirmations and agreed not to hold the legislative committee meeting scheduled for the 11th because most regents will be in Iowa City.

The meeting opened with a brief procedural note that the board’s legislative committee would not meet next week. “We will not be having the legislative committee next week on the eleventh as most of the regents will be in Iowa City,” a meeting participant said.

Board staff and members then summarized the bills they have been tracking. Erin, a staff member, described House File 295 as the accreditation bill and said it “says an accreditor cannot take an adverse action against an institution or following state law.” She said HF295 passed out of the Senate Education Committee and was awaiting debate on the Senate floor.

Jillian and other staff reviewed House File 401, the core-curriculum bill, which they said would set general-education requirements for institutions. The description given at the meeting lists required credit hours as: six hours of English composition, three hours of math or statistics, four hours of natural sciences, six hours of social sciences, six hours of humanities, three hours of western heritage and three hours of American heritage; the bill provides exemptions for highly specialized degree programs and for three-year degree programs. Staff said HF401 passed out of the Senate Education Committee the day before the meeting.

House File 437, described as a Center for Intellectual Freedom bill, was reported as eligible for floor debate in the Senate. Staff noted there is a companion Senate bill and that the House file had been attached to the Senate calendar.

Carol Anne, a staff member, summarized House File 440 on tuition policy. She said HF440 would require the Board of Regents to establish tuition by April 30 for the previous fiscal year, require the board to begin offering at least one baccalaureate degree that can be completed in three years, and begin implementing at least one work-study program in which an employer would be financially responsible for a student’s tuition. Carol Anne also said the board would be required to conduct a study and establish a policy on a tuition guarantee if the bill advances.

Keith, a staff member, described House File 516 as an omnibus admissions bill affecting the University of Iowa’s medical and dental schools. He said the bill would require the board to adopt a policy that 80% of an entering medical or dental class be Iowans, would codify a priority for Iowans in residency programs, and would require the university to interview any Iowan interested in a residency. Keith said the Senate added language that defines residency broadly (including someone who has been in the state for four years attending undergraduate) and added an attestation form by which applicants would indicate residency, family ties to the state and other categories the bill would use to judge intent to remain in Iowa.

On the budget, Keith said the state’s budget process was about to move forward because the March revenue estimate had been released and the House and Senate still needed to reach agreement on state supplemental aid for K-12; once that is settled, budget subcommittee targets and language from House and Senate budget subcommittees are expected to follow. “The budget process should be kicking off here very soon,” he said. Staff noted the governor’s budget bills have been introduced and that the board would wait for subcommittee targets to be announced.

Regarding confirmations, staff advised the board that five regents are up for confirmation this year and that the Senate Education Committee was expected to begin subcommittee work next week; staff said they would stay in contact with senators chairing those confirmation processes. “We have 5 regents up for confirmation this year,” Keith said.

The meeting concluded with an agreement that staff would circulate appropriations materials to the full board as they become available.

Ending: No votes or formal motions were recorded on the bills during this meeting excerpt; staff described committee and floor status and identified next steps in the appropriations and confirmation processes.