Iowa House Bill HSB86

Iowa 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/27/25
• Refer: 1/27/25

Caption

A bill for an act modifying provisions related to school concussion and brain injury policies.(See HF 471.)

Summary

HSB86 makes a narrow change to Iowa’s school concussion and brain injury policy law. The bill amends the definition of “licensed health care provider” in Code section 280.13C to add a person who holds a doctorate in psychology with specialty training in neuropsychology or concussion management. The underlying law requires state agencies and athletic organizations to develop concussion training, distribute information, and establish protocols for removing and returning students to extracurricular interscholastic activities after a suspected concussion or brain injury. By expanding who qualifies as a licensed health care provider for these purposes, the bill broadens the range of professionals who may be involved in concussion-related removal and return-to-play decisions under the statute.

Impact

The bill would amend Iowa Code section 280.13C, affecting school concussion and brain injury procedures for extracurricular interscholastic activities. Its practical effect is to recognize certain psychologists with specialized training as authorized providers under the statute, which may expand access to qualified evaluators and return-to-participation decisions for student athletes and schools.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests the bill was noncontroversial in committee, passing the House Committee on Health and Human Services unanimously 19-0. No committee transcript is available, but the unanimous vote indicates broad support for the limited technical update.

Contention

There is little visible contention in the available materials because the bill makes a targeted definitional change rather than a broader policy shift. If any issue were to arise, it would likely concern whether expanding the list of authorized providers could affect who is permitted to make concussion-related decisions for students, but no opposition is reflected in the vote or materials provided.