Iowa lawmakers suggest bill to ensure health safety in schools

A proposed bill would require school districts to develop emergency response plans, including CPR and other health-related training for staff.

By Gretchen Lembcke Pena

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News Brief

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March 2, 2026

Iowa lawmakers gathered at the Iowa Statehouse to discuss SF2390, a health-related emergency response plan competitive grant program that pushes for health training in schools.

Introduced on Feb. 19, the bill’s purpose is to provide CPR, emergency management and other health training to school staff in the event of an emergency. If approved, the Department of Education would be required to “develop and administer a school health-related emergency response plan competitive grant program to provide grants to schools to offset the costs associated with the school’s development and implementation of a cardiac emergency response plan.”

Advocates say the training would save lives.

The Senate of Education Committee recommended the amendment and passage of SF2390.

Black Iowa News will follow this issue.

Author

Gretchen Lembcke Pena

Gretchen Lembcke Peña is a multimedia bilingual journalist originally from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. She holds a B.A in Multimedia Journalism from Lynn University and recently earned her M.A in Bilingual Journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. Her reporting centers on community and cross-cultural storytelling with a focus on representation. Gretchen has long been passionate about writing surrounding social issues, arts, culture, and entertainment, which led her to pursue journalism. Outside the newsroom, she spends her time tackling her reading goal for the week.