DES MOINES, Iowa — A bill that was asked for by school districts, county attorneys and parents has made it through both chambers with not a single vote against it.

The bill is a fix to the chronic absenteeism law passed last year. Iowa House lawmakers passed it unanimously on Thursday afternoon. The bill adds exemptions to what is considered an excused absence, including military exemptions, funerals and weddings.

It also drops the mail notice that had school staff working hours that they didn’t expect, with each certified mail notice costing around $10. Those mail notices are what would occur when a student hits a 15% absent rate for one grading period. At 10%, according to the new bill, parents/guardians would only have to meet with school staff if those absences are negatively impacting a student’s academic progress.

Twenty percent is when charges will be filed by the county attorney in truancy court. This bill also requires the Iowa Department of Education to create a model policy for the Iowa County Attorneys Association to follow when filing charges.

Another bill passed by the Iowa House on Thursday impacts high school students by adding another requirement in order to graduate.

The bill passed along party lines on Thursday afternoon. It requires students to pass a United States Civics test in order to receive a diploma. A student will have to complete a 100 question, multiple choice test, getting better than a 60% in order to have it completed.

House Republicans argued that this is needed to make sure that Iowa students will be involved and informed citizens post graduation. The civics test that immigrants take to become a U.S. citizen has the same questions, but the test Iowa high schoolers have to take will be a little different.

“The difference is this is a multiple choice test, what is given to immigrants is an open-ended test and they are under the pressure of only getting to do it once. They (students) can do it lots of times,” said State Representative Robert Henderson (R), District 2 from Sioux City.

House Democrats argued on the debate floor that while the party understands the push to have students be educated citizens, having a student regurgitate answers on a multiple choice test won’t do what is aimed to be done.

“I don’t this bill…will create sustainable change, but mainly it won’t help students feel and connect to this country,” said State Representative Ross Wilburn (D), District 50 from Iowa City.

Students will also have access to the test questions and the answers before taking the test to study. Both of these bills are now sent over to Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds’ desk to be signed into law.

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