A bill for an act prohibiting courses and content relating to diversity, equity, inclusion, and critical race theory in general education requirements and core curricula at regents institutions.(See SF 2303.)
Senate File 2063, titled the “Stop Woke Act,” would require the Iowa Board of Regents to adopt a policy barring diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), and critical race theory-related courses or course requirements from being included in undergraduate general education requirements or core curricula at regents institutions. The bill defines DEI/CRT-related content broadly to include material addressing concepts such as systemic racism, implicit bias, intersectionality, gender identity, social justice, allyship, white privilege, and related topics when tied to contemporary American society.
The bill also directs the Board of Regents to review all undergraduate general education requirements and core curricula by December 31, 2026, and to remove any required courses or course requirements that include the prohibited content. It further requires the board to establish all policies needed to implement the act by the same date. In effect, the bill would not ban such topics from being taught altogether, but would prevent them from being required as part of general education or core curriculum at institutions governed by the board.
If enacted, the bill would amend the governance of Iowa’s regents institutions by imposing a statewide restriction on what may be required in undergraduate general education and core curriculum programs. It would affect the Board of Regents and the public universities under its authority by forcing a review and possible revision of degree requirements, course catalogs, and curriculum policies. The bill’s practical impact would be to limit mandatory exposure to DEI- and CRT-related content in foundational undergraduate coursework, while leaving open the possibility that such material could still appear in elective or non-required courses.
The available legislative history suggests the bill advanced through committee, where it was approved and renumbered as SF 2303, indicating at least some support among committee members. No vote tally or transcript is provided, so there is no direct record here of floor debate or opposition statements. Based on the bill’s subject matter and title, the measure appears aligned with a broader anti-DEI policy trend and likely appealed to supporters seeking to restrict ideological content in required university coursework.
The main point of contention is the bill’s broad definition of prohibited content, which reaches beyond explicit DEI or critical race theory labels to include topics such as systemic racism, implicit bias, intersectionality, gender identity, social justice, and white privilege when connected to contemporary American society. Supporters would likely frame the bill as protecting curricular neutrality and preventing compelled ideological instruction, while opponents would likely argue that it intrudes on academic freedom, narrows university curriculum design, and could chill discussion of race, gender, and inequality in required courses. The bill’s focus on required general education courses, rather than all courses, also suggests a compromise point: it targets core requirements while not expressly eliminating electives or broader classroom discussion.