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Regents review multiple education and contract bills; register mostly undecided positions
Summary
The State Board of Regents discussed a package of bills affecting immunization notices, medical education residency preferences, open meetings training, protections for pregnant students, venue language in state contracts and other measures; the board remains largely undecided and will continue monitoring.
The State Board of Regents met to review a set of bills moving through the Iowa Legislature, and the board remained largely undecided on most measures while agreeing to continue monitoring developments.
Board staff identified two items that had moved in the House this week: House File 299, an immunization-exemption notice bill that passed the House on a 58-30 vote, and House File 516, an omnibus medical-education bill that passed the House and is now in the Senate. "This is a bill that we're registered undecided on," said Jen Harvison referring to House File 299. "Good morning. This bill has sort of become an omnibus bill related to medical education at the University of Iowa," said Keith while describing House File 516.
Why it matters: Several bills would affect Regents institutions’ compliance obligations or reporting duties. House File 299 would require exemptions information to be included in Department of Health and Human Services immunization recommendations and would require day-care centers and education institutions to publish related notices; the Regents would be required to adopt policy for higher-education institutions if the law is enacted. House File 516 would codify residency preferences and reporting at the University of Iowa, and set an 80% in-state residency policy target for the colleges of medicine and dentistry.
Details and context: On House File 299 (Immunization Exemptions), Harvison told the board the bill "would require that information on exemptions be included within any recommendation of immunizations by the Department of Health and Human Services" and that the bill assigns the cost of publishing and providing notices to the affected education entity or department. The board is registered "undecided" on the bill.
On medical education, Keith described several provisions folded into House File 516: a requirement that the Regents adopt a policy aiming for 80% of students in the College of Medicine and the College of Dentistry to be Iowans; a reporting requirement tracking where graduates and residents locate in the year after completing training; codification of existing session law giving a preference in residencies to Iowa residents; and a requirement to interview Iowa graduates for specific residency and fellowship specialties. Keith said the College of Medicine historically has been about 70% Iowan and that the policy language changes could put it close to an 80% target, while the College of Dentistry (class size ~82) would be more sensitive to changes of one or two students. The board is monitoring and remains undecided.
Other bills discussed: House File 386 (a study of three-year medical-degree options involving University of Iowa Health Care and Des Moines University) is being monitored; Keith said the board will collaborate on the study and provide the required report. House File 706 would increase penalties and require training for new board members under the state open meetings and open records law; the bill specifies training by IPB within 19 days of assuming office, and the board is monitoring the proposal. House File 891, which would bar minors from attending live shows deemed obscene, has been pared back and is being monitored; venue operators have registered opposition, while other groups have registered in favor.
Senate File 288 would require the state's higher-education institutions and community colleges to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnant and postpartum students, including excused absences and options to make up exams; the bill would allow students to file complaints with the Iowa Office of Civil Rights. Jillian noted many institutions already handle such matters under federal law and Title IX, and the board is registered undecided. Senate File 297 would limit what state entities may include in contracts and contains venue language that would require some litigation to be filed in Polk County unless amended; board staff said the Regents have asked the Department of Administrative Services to accept venue language allowing local venue where litigation arises; the Regents are the only state entity registered on that bill and remain undecided.
Board position and next steps: Across the bills discussed, staff repeatedly described the board’s status as "undecided" or "monitoring." No formal Regent motion or vote on any of the bills was recorded during the meeting. Board members asked clarifying questions about implementation details (for example, who bears publication costs under HF299; how the 80% target compares to historical residency percentages; and whether training referenced in HF706 is currently offered). Staff said the board will continue to track amendments and floor activity; members noted House Floor debates are scheduled next week for House File 440 (tuition) and House File 437 (Center for Intellectual Freedom).
Ending: The Regents will revisit bills as legislative language changes; staff advised the board to watch for amendments to venue language in SF297 and for any changes to reporting or residency definitions in HF516 that would affect implementation at the University of Iowa.
