News : Iowan comments on rules for fetal teaching and accreditation

The Iowa Board of Education is taking public feedback as it creates the rules for implementing various state education laws that were signed in 2025. One of those addresses education about fetal development. 

On Wednesday, the board took action on rulemaking, directed by the Legislature this year. Part of this includes a time of public comments on two laws signed by Governor Reynolds.  They can be seen by clicking Senate File 175 which deals with fetal development education, and clicking here: House File 295 concerning community college accreditation.

Democrats oppose both measures. The law concerning fetal development instruction was modeled after laws in other states that directly reference the “Meet Baby Olivia” video made by the pro-life group Live Action. Iowa law requires students in grades 5-12  to learn about human growth and development. The classes include visuals. These often include ultrasound video or computer-generated renderings or animations that depicting  “the humanity of the unborn child by showing prenatal human development, starting at fertilization.”

The measure bans materials from those who promote abortion, or contracts, affiliates, or refer women to providers who promote abortion.

Democrats feel that failing to provide abortion materials could lead to inaccurate information. 

Law limits accrediting agencies

The other law posted for intended rulemaking action was on state universities and community colleges, and accrediting bodies’ ability to take action against community colleges for following certain state laws. The measure states accreditors cannot take adverse actions against Iowa higher education institutions for following or refusing to break state law — and states that if a public higher education institute is “negatively affected by adverse action” for such a violation, the state attorney general can authorize bringing a civil action against the accrediting agency in question.

The rulemaking change would allow more accrediting agencies to sanction public higher education institutes. Under previous Iowa law and rules, the Higher Learning Commission was the only named agency able to perform this duty. The proposed change “broadens the menu of accreditors to any federally recognized accreditor that (the board) in the future may have approved,” Mayes said.

Both of the rulemaking proposals are open for public feedback before implementation. Public hearings will be held Dec. 30 at the Grimes State Office Building, in addition to having video conferences available. Public comments can also be emailed to Mayes.