Iowa Radon Law
The Iowa School Radon Mandate (HF 2412)
A plain-language guide to the Gail Orcutt Radon School Safety Act: what it requires, the testing deadlines, and how it connects to Iowa’s new radon rules for homes.
Iowa’s HF 2412, the Gail Orcutt Radon School Safety Act, requires every public school attendance center in Iowa to test for radon by July 1, 2027 and at least every five years after. If results are at or above the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L, the district must re-test and, if levels stay elevated, develop and carry out a mitigation plan.
The law is named for Gail Orcutt, a retired Iowa teacher who became a radon-safety advocate after a high radon level was found in her own home, and who died of radon-induced lung cancer in 2020. Governor Reynolds signed the act in May 2022 after it passed with strong bipartisan support in the Iowa Legislature. It took effect that summer, giving districts until July 1, 2027 to complete their first round of testing.
The mandate matters because Iowa has the highest residential radon in the country. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services reports a state average around 8.5 pCi/L, compared with a US average near 1.3 pCi/L, and all 99 Iowa counties are EPA Radon Zone 1. Children spend a large share of their day in school buildings, so testing those spaces is a direct way to reduce long-term exposure.
What HF 2412 Requires, Step by Step
- 1
Test every attendance center by July 1, 2027
Each public school attendance center must complete a radon test at least once by the deadline, then at least once every five years after.
- 2
Elevated result triggers a second test
If a short-term test is at or above 4 pCi/L, the district must conduct a second short-term test in the affected spaces within 60 days.
- 3
Averaged result drives the response
If the average of the first and second tests is at or above 4 pCi/L, the district must retain a credentialed person to develop a radon mitigation plan.
- 4
Mitigate and re-test
The district carries out the mitigation plan, generally within two years per Iowa HHS guidance, and confirms the fix with follow-up testing.
- 5
Build new schools radon-resistant
New school construction is required to use radon-resistant building techniques from the start.
What It Means for Local Districts
The mandate is statewide, so every Iowa public district faces the same July 1, 2027 deadline. In our launch metros, that includes the Sioux City Community School District in Woodbury County and the Dubuque Community School District in Dubuque County, along with neighboring districts like Western Dubuque. The geology that can elevate radon in these school buildings, deep porous loess around Sioux City and fractured Driftless limestone around Dubuque, runs under the surrounding homes too, so a high school result is a good reminder for families to test their own houses.
Schools that need help develop a mitigation plan with a credentialed person. The same credential standard applies to homes: the specialists we connect homeowners with are NRPP-certified and Iowa HHS-credentialed.
Iowa’s New Radon Rule for Homes (July 1, 2026)
The school mandate is not Iowa’s only radon rule. Beginning July 1, 2026, the Iowa state building code requires new single-family and two-family homes to include a passive radon system that follows Appendix AF of the 2021 International Residential Code. Before this statewide rule, a number of Iowa jurisdictions, including Johnson, Linn, Polk, and Bremer counties and cities such as Iowa City, North Liberty, and Pella, already required radon-resistant new construction.
A passive system uses the home’s own stack effect to vent some radon with no fan, and it can be activated by adding a fan later if a test shows the level is still at or above 4 pCi/L. If you are building, our new construction radon systems page explains how a credentialed specialist roughs this in during the build.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is HF 2412?
HF 2412, the Gail Orcutt Radon School Safety Act, is an Iowa law signed in May 2022 that requires every public school attendance center to test for radon by July 1, 2027 and at least every five years after. It is named for Gail Orcutt, a retired Iowa teacher who died of radon-induced lung cancer in 2020.
What happens if a school tests high?
If a short-term test is at or above 4 pCi/L, the district must run a second short-term test in the affected spaces within 60 days. If the average of the two tests is at or above 4 pCi/L, the district must retain a credentialed person to develop a radon mitigation plan.
Does the law cover Sioux City and Dubuque schools?
Yes. The mandate applies statewide, so the Sioux City Community School District, the Dubuque Community School District, and every other Iowa public district must test their attendance centers by the July 1, 2027 deadline.
Does Iowa now require radon systems in new homes?
Yes. Beginning July 1, 2026, the Iowa state building code requires new single-family and two-family homes to include a passive radon system following Appendix AF of the 2021 International Residential Code. A passive system can be activated with a fan later if testing shows it is needed.
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