Iowa Lawmakers Advance Bills to Prioritize In-State Students at University of Iowa’s Law and Nursing Programs
Iowa lawmakers have advanced two bills aimed at ensuring that at least 80 percent of students admitted to the University of Iowa’s (UI) College of Law and College of Nursing programs are residents of the state. The legislation seeks to address concerns about “brain drain” and workforce shortages by prioritizing Iowa students in these key educational programs.
Residency Requirements Defined
House Study Bill (HSB) 532, which targets the College of Law, sets out clear definitions for what constitutes a “resident of Iowa.” To qualify, an individual must either have graduated from an Iowa high school, lived continuously in Iowa for at least four years before starting college, or have attended an Iowa university for their undergraduate degree.
In contrast, House Study Bill 530—focusing on the Bachelor of Science in Nursing undergraduate degree—defines “resident of Iowa” more narrowly. It requires applicants to have graduated from an in-state high school.
Both bills also mandate that the University of Iowa submit annual reports detailing the number of Iowa students accepted and rejected from these programs, including explanations for any denials among in-state applicants.
Addressing Brain Drain and Economic Impact
The bills aim to curb “brain drain,” a term describing the migration of young people out of Iowa. Data from the Common Sense Institute Iowa, a nonpartisan research organization, revealed that Iowa had the seventh highest cumulative net outmigration of college graduates in the U.S. in 2025. The study projected a $6.1 billion loss in gross domestic product by 2060 and nearly $400,000 in lost tax revenue per outgoing graduate for local and state governments.
This legislative approach is not new for Iowa. In the previous session, Governor Kim Reynolds signed a similar law establishing residency requirements for admission to the UI’s Carver College of Medicine and College of Dentistry. Like the current proposals, that law requires at least 80 percent of admitted students to be Iowa residents or to have attended an Iowa college.
Concerns Raised by University and Officials
During House subcommittee meetings, significant concerns were voiced regarding the bills’ potential impact.
Todd Pettys, Dean of the UI College of Law, cautioned that the legislation could lead to declines in enrollment, bar passage rates, admission credentials, and tuition revenue. He estimated a potential loss of $7 million to $11 million in tuition revenue per three-year class, compared to current revenue of approximately $17.5 million.
Pettys explained that to maintain admission standards under the residency requirements, the law school would need to reduce class sizes, resulting in a revenue shortfall. He emphasized the risks of admitting students less likely to pass the bar, which could harm the reputation of the college and the quality of Iowa’s legal workforce.
Importantly, nearly 20 percent of out-of-state law students currently remain in Iowa after graduation—a critical contribution to meeting the state’s growing legal workforce needs.
Iowa Representatives Steven Holt (R-Denison) and Ross Wilburn (D-Ames) have acknowledged these concerns and indicated they are reviewing all information from the university before the bills move to the Higher Education Committee.
Jason Chapman, State Relations Officer for the Iowa Board of Regents, shared similar apprehensions. He worried that the bill might reduce both the number and quality of attorneys entering the Iowa workforce and questioned whether it would truly attract additional talent to the state.
Chapman also noted potential unintended consequences for other nursing programs statewide. If UI lowers its admission standards or restricts its intake, students may apply to other Iowa nursing schools, increasing competition and possibly forcing smaller or private programs to close. This could ultimately reduce the total number of nurses entering Iowa’s healthcare system.
Support and Opposition Perspectives
Phil Jeneary, Executive Director of Iowans for Affordable Healthcare, expressed support for the legislation. He acknowledged the Board of Regents’ concerns but stressed the importance of admitting more Iowa residents into nursing programs to improve retention after graduation. Jeneary highlighted Iowa’s ongoing struggles to attract and retain healthcare professionals, noting that the American Association of Medical Colleges ranks Iowa 44th nationwide in patient-to-physician ratio.
Conversely, Iowa Representative Timi Brown-Powers (D-Waterloo) opposed advancing the nursing program bill. While she agreed that keeping Iowa students in-state is important, Brown-Powers emphasized the need to attract talented out-of-state individuals who may contribute to the state’s workforce long-term.
“We are all getting a little gray haired out here,” Brown-Powers remarked. “We need out-of-state folks to come, flourish, and work.”
Looking Ahead
As the bills proceed through legislative review, lawmakers continue to weigh the competing priorities of retaining Iowa’s young talent, maintaining educational quality and standards, and addressing workforce shortages across critical professions such as law and nursing.
Stakeholders from the University of Iowa, state government, and community organizations remain actively engaged in the discussion to ensure the best outcomes for Iowa’s present and future workforce needs.
https://dailyiowan.com/2026/01/21/lawmakers-advance-bills-creating-residency-requirements-for-ui-law-nursing-programs/