Iowa Bills

passed · Iowa · Senate Apr 1, 2026

SF 2146: A bill for an act relating to the responsibility and liability of property owners for public places in cities, prohibiting fines, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.

This bill updates Iowa law regarding property owners' responsibilities for public sidewalks and adjacent areas. Abutting property owners (those whose property borders sidewalks) must remove snow/ice and maintain the area between their property line and the curb if required by city ordinance, but cities cannot impose fines for failure to comply. If owners don't act, cities may perform the work and charge only the direct costs of materials and labor (collected like property tax), not additional fines. The law also clarifies that owners can only be held liable for actual, proven damages - not speculative claims - and applies retroactively to June 13, 2024.

died · Iowa · House Apr 1, 2026

HF 2209: A bill for an act providing for the admission of students to the Iowa state university of science and technology college of veterinary medicine.

HF 2209 requires Iowa State University's College of Veterinary Medicine to admit at least 80% of students who are Iowa residents or attended eligible Iowa colleges. It prioritizes applicants planning to work in Iowa rural communities (under 25,000 people) and specialize in mixed-animal veterinary care. Applicants must disclose their Iowa background and career intentions in their applications. The university must submit annual reports to the legislature detailing admission statistics and reasons for rejections.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Iowa · House Mar 31, 2026

HF 2378: A bill for an act increasing the state minimum hourly wage and providing for subsequent increases by the same percentage as the increase in federal social security benefits.

This Iowa bill (HF 2378) sets a phased increase to the state minimum wage: $10.00 per hour starting July 1, 2026; $12.50 on July 1, 2027; and $15.00 on July 1, 2028. It also establishes a lower minimum wage of $9.10, $11.60, and $14.10 for employees in their first 90 days of work, effective on the same dates. Beginning July 1, 2029, the wage will automatically rise each year by the same percentage as the federal Social Security cost-of-living adjustment, with no decreases allowed. The bill removes a tip credit for certain workers and allows counties or cities to set higher local minimum wages than the state rate.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Iowa · House Mar 31, 2026

HF 2384: A bill for an act relating to the maximum amount of unemployment benefits payable during a benefit year.

HF 2384 increases Iowa's maximum unemployment benefits for eligible workers. It raises the cap from 16 to 26 times a worker's weekly benefit amount during a benefit year. For workers laid off due to an employer's business closure, it increases the cap from 26 to 39 times the weekly benefit amount. This change directly affects unemployed Iowans who qualify for benefits, ensuring they receive more total support under these specific circumstances. The bill modifies how benefit limits are calculated based on prior earnings.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Iowa · House Mar 31, 2026

HF 2380: A bill for an act providing for a community-based wage enforcement program for purposes of the state wage payment collection and minimum wage laws.

HF 2380 establishes a community-based wage enforcement program in Iowa to strengthen enforcement of state wage payment and minimum wage laws. The bill requires the director of the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing to contract with qualified community-based organizations (nonprofits with five years of employee advocacy experience) to provide free services directly to workers. Key services include employee education about wage rights, direct advocacy for filing complaints, legal assistance, and tailored support for marginalized communities or non-English speakers. All program activities must be accessible to any Iowa employee at no cost, aiming to improve resolution of wage disputes under state law.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Iowa · House Mar 31, 2026

HJR 2008: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to worker rights.

This proposed constitutional amendment would guarantee Iowa workers the right to form unions, negotiate wages and working conditions through their chosen representatives, and protect workplace safety. It specifically prohibits state laws that interfere with collective bargaining or require union membership as a condition of employment. The amendment would directly affect all Iowa workers and employers, adding these protections to the state constitution. If passed by the legislature and approved by voters, it would become part of Iowa's fundamental law.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Iowa · House Mar 31, 2026

HF 2385: A bill for an act prohibiting the misclassification of employees as independent contractors, providing penalties, and including applicability provisions.

HF 2385 prohibits employers in Iowa from willfully misclassifying workers as independent contractors instead of employees, which would deny them benefits like unemployment insurance. It uses current federal IRS guidelines to determine worker classification and applies to misclassifications occurring after the bill's effective date. Employers violating this law face civil penalties of up to $10,000 per misclassified worker for repeat offenses, plus a Class D felony charge (up to 5 years in prison and fines up to $10,245). The Iowa Department of Workforce Development enforces the law, collects penalties for the general fund, and refers violations to county attorneys.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

died · Iowa · Senate Mar 31, 2026

SF 2387: A bill for an act relating to the compatibility of passenger vehicles rented or leased by the state with biodiesel blended fuel classified as B-20 or higher, and including applicability provisions.

This bill requires the state of Iowa to only rent or lease passenger vehicles with diesel engines that manufacturers explicitly confirm can run on biodiesel fuel blended at 20% or higher (B-20). It directly affects state agencies (specifically the Department of Administrative Services) and private companies bidding on state vehicle rental contracts. The requirement applies to all new or renewed contracts issued on or after July 1, 2026, extending an existing standard currently used for state vehicle purchases.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment ✓ Transportation

in committee · Iowa · House Mar 31, 2026

HF 2631: A bill for an act relating to a family leave and medical leave insurance program that provides for paid, job-protected leave for certain family leave and medical leave reasons for eligible employees of specified employers.

HF 2631 establishes Iowa's Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program, creating a paid, job-protected leave system for eligible employees. It directly affects workers at covered employers (private businesses with 10+ employees year-round or public employers) who need leave for bonding with a newborn/adopted child, caring for a family member with a serious health condition, taking medical leave for their own serious health issue, or addressing qualifying circumstances as a crime victim (e.g., seeking medical care, legal assistance, or safety measures). The program is funded through employee premiums, with benefits calculated based on spendable weekly earnings, and is administered by the Department of Workforce Development. This legislation expands on existing federal protections by adding specific coverage for crime victim-related leave and standardizing definitions for eligibility and benefits.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

passed · Iowa · House Mar 31, 2026

HF 2629: A bill for an act relating to trespass, and providing penalties.

HF 2629 proposes a new criminal offense for "unlawful squatting" in Iowa, targeting individuals who enter and occupy someone else's property without legal permission. It defines unlawful squatting as entering and residing on a dwelling, commercial building, or vacant property without showing valid documents like a lease, deed, rental receipt, or owner authorization - unless the person is an immediate family member of the owner. Violations are classified as a serious misdemeanor (first offense), aggravated misdemeanor (second), or class D felony (third+), with fines and jail time increasing for repeat offenses. The bill also requires property owners (or their authorized representatives) to report squatting to police and allows victims to sue for damages, while exempting law enforcement acting in good faith. This is a proposed law introduced on February 19, 2026, not yet enacted.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

died · Iowa · Senate Mar 31, 2026

SF 2394: A bill for an act relating to a statewide urban design and specifications board, including assessment of costs for local government projects that do not comply with the board’s design or specifications manuals.

SF 2394 establishes a statewide urban design and specifications board within Iowa's Department of Transportation. The board will create and maintain statewide design and specifications manuals for public projects, publish them online, and provide cost estimates for any changes. Crucially, the bill requires counties and cities that approve projects not following these manuals to cover any additional project costs - property owners cannot be charged for these costs. This directly affects local governments' budget responsibilities for infrastructure projects.

died · Iowa · House Mar 31, 2026

HF 2651: A bill for an act relating to fluid milk products annual permits, and including effective date provisions.

HF 2651 amends Iowa's fluid milk product permit rules to allow vehicles weighing up to 136,000 pounds (previously capped at 96,000 pounds) for transport on certain roads. It removes the restriction requiring permits only for primary roads in cities, enabling local authorities (not just the DOT) to issue these annual permits. The bill also requires the DOT to establish rules for minimum axle configuration distances but maintains the existing 20,000-pound-per-axle weight limit. This change directly affects dairy transport companies and local governments managing road permits, effective January 1, 2027.

Bill results