Labor & Employment

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 16, 2026

HSB 500: A bill for an act making children of child care workers eligible for the state child care assistance program.

This bill expands Iowa's state child care assistance program to include children of child care workers. It makes a child eligible if their parent, guardian, or custodian works at least 32 hours per week providing direct child care at a facility with a state reimbursement agreement, meets other specific requirements (like not being an owner or substitute), and the family qualifies for assistance. Parents would still pay copayments as determined by the Department of Health and Human Services. The bill requires the department to create rules for implementing these changes.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands child care assistance for child care workers, supporting employment stability by reducing family care costs for this labor sector.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Child Labor

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 10, 2026

SSB 3087: A bill for an act relating to the safety of persons in certain professions involved with the judicial system, including authorizing a judicial officer, attorney general, deputy attorney general, or assistant attorney general to be issued a professional permit to carry weapons, and establishing the criminal offenses of threatening and the malicious sharing of personal information of a judicial officer or a judicial officer’s immediate family, and providing penalties.

This bill (SSB 3087) enhances safety protections for judicial officers and related legal professionals in Iowa. It allows judicial officers, attorneys general, deputy attorneys general, and assistant attorneys general to obtain permits to carry weapons openly or concealed (with specific courtroom restrictions), while establishing new criminal penalties for threatening these individuals or their immediate family (a class "C" felony) and for maliciously sharing their personal information like addresses or phone numbers (a serious misdemeanor). The law directly affects judges, prosecutors, and their families by creating clearer legal safeguards against threats and harassment. Penalties aim to deter intimidation that could disrupt judicial work or endanger families.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enhances safety protections for judicial officers by enabling weapon permits and creating new felony penalties for threats/sharing personal info, strengthening judicial system security within criminal justice.92% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill enhances workplace safety for judicial officers via weapon permits and criminal penalties for threats, directly addressing workplace safety within Labor & Employment's scope.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Employment Discrimination

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 27, 2026

SSB 3014: A bill for an act relating to the use of artificial intelligence systems and related software by state agencies for employment and other purposes.

This Iowa bill (SSB 3014) requires state agencies to track and report on artificial intelligence (AI) systems used for employment and public-facing purposes. Agencies must maintain a public inventory of all AI tools - including purpose, use, and data handled - and publish a list of employment-related AI tools within 90 days of use, with annual reports to the legislature. The bill prohibits using AI to alter employee rights, benefits, or job terms (including layoffs, pay cuts, or transferring duties), or to impact collective bargaining agreements. It defines "AI systems" broadly to include tools like machine learning and generative AI, while excluding basic software like spreadsheets.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits AI from altering employee rights, benefits, or job terms (including layoffs/pay cuts), directly protecting workers' rights per Labor & Employment indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Tags Artificial Intelligence

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 29, 2026

SSB 3072: A bill for an act relating to apprenticeships.

This bill (SSB 3072) updates Iowa's apprenticeship laws to clarify roles and support training programs. It defines key terms like "intermediary sponsor" (an organization training apprentices for multiple employers) and "partner employer" (an employer using an intermediary). The bill protects intermediaries from being penalized for their partner employers' actions but requires them to address partner breaches. It also establishes that apprenticeship programs receiving state financial aid must provide at least 100 contact hours of training per apprentice annually. These changes directly affect apprenticeship programs, intermediaries, and employers participating in registered apprenticeship training in Iowa.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly updates apprenticeship laws to clarify roles and support training programs, advancing job training within labor & employment policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Apprenticeships Labor Standards Workforce Development

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died · Iowa · House Mar 2, 2026

HF 2072: A bill for an act relating to the prohibition of noncompete clauses in certain employment contracts entered into by the university of Iowa hospitals and clinics, and including effective date provisions.

HF 2072 prohibits the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC) from including noncompete clauses in employment contracts with physicians. It requires the university's board of regents to create a policy banning these clauses, which are restrictions preventing doctors from practicing in certain areas or for specific time periods after leaving UIHC. The law applies to all new or renewed physician contracts entered into on or after the bill's effective date (which is immediately upon enactment). This directly affects physicians employed by UIHC by removing geographic and time-based restrictions on their future practice options.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBans noncompete clauses for UIHC physicians, increasing provider mobility and access to care without restricting healthcare services.92% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBans noncompete clauses for UIHC physicians, removing employment restrictions and protecting job mobility rights under Labor & Employment.95% confidence

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 21, 2026

SSB 3005: A bill for an act relating to work search requirements for unemployment benefits for certain individuals with disabilities.

This bill (SSB 3005) modifies Iowa's unemployment benefits rules to allow certain individuals with disabilities to meet weekly work search requirements through specific support programs. It directly affects people with intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, or traumatic brain injury (who can use vocational rehabilitation programs) and blind individuals (who can use programs offered by the Department for the Blind). The key provision adds two new options: participation in approved vocational rehabilitation services or blindness employment programs counts as a required work search activity. This change aims to align work search expectations with disability-specific support services. The bill is currently in committee review with a subcommittee recommending passage.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEnables disabled individuals to meet work search requirements via support programs, expanding access to unemployment benefits and protecting their rights without penalizing disability-related barriers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

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introduced · Iowa · Legislature

5502XD: State Employee Parental Leave (5502XD) - Administrative Services, Department of

This bill (5502XD) amends Iowa Code section 70A.24 to provide paid parental leave for state employees without requiring them to first qualify for leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). It directly affects Iowa state employees who are welcoming a newborn or adopting a child, making them eligible for paid leave within 12 months of the birth or adoption. The key change removes the previous requirement that employees must be entitled to federal FMLA leave to receive state-paid parental leave. This policy shift expands access to paid leave for qualifying state employees by decoupling it from federal eligibility rules.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves federal FMLA prerequisite for state employee paid parental leave, expanding worker benefit access and strengthening employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave Public Employees

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introduced · Iowa · Legislature

5501XD: Reemployment Case Management and Unemployment Insurance Processing (5501XD) - Workforce Development, Department of

This bill (5501XD) requires Iowa's Department of Workforce Development to establish a mandatory reemployment case management program for unemployment claimants. It directly affects individuals filing for unemployment benefits who must participate in this program to maintain eligibility, starting within two weeks of filing an initial claim. The program provides individualized job search services to claimants no longer attached to work, replacing previous work search requirements for certain groups like partially unemployed workers. The bill modifies eligibility rules (Section 96.4) and creates the new program requirement (Section 96.11, subsection 17) without changing benefit amounts or payment schedules.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates reemployment case management for unemployment claimants to maintain benefits, strengthening job placement support and aligning with employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment Workforce Development

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in committee · Iowa · Senate May 14, 2025

SSB 1240: A bill for an act making appropriations from the sports wagering receipts fund, and including effective date provisions.

SSB 1240 appropriates funds from the sports wagering receipts fund for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025. It allocates $14 million to the Department of Education to supplement the compensation of non-salaried education support personnel in school districts. School districts must report staff information by July 1, 2025, to receive these funds, which will be distributed based on student enrollment. Additionally, the bill appropriates $8 million to the Department of Public Safety for its public safety equipment fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $14M to education support staff and $8M to public safety from sports wagering receipts, directly funding public services using dedicated tax revenue.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $14M from sports wagering fund to supplement non-salaried education support staff compensation, directly funding school personnel under education department.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAllocates $14M to supplement compensation for non-salaried education support personnel, directly supporting wages under Labor & Employment topic.85% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget School Funding

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in committee · Iowa · House Mar 18, 2025

HSB 265: A bill for an act relating to benefits for members of the Iowa public employees’ retirement system who are employed in a protection occupation.

This bill (HSB 265) modifies retirement benefits for Iowa public safety workers (e.g., police, firefighters) in the state’s public employees’ retirement system. It increases retirement benefits for members retiring on or after July 1, 2025, by adding 0.625% per quarter of service beyond 22 years (capped at 20% total), compared to the current 0.375% (capped at 12%). It also allows earlier retirement at age 50 with 22 years of service (instead of age 55) and adds a 1.5% annual cost-of-living adjustment starting July 2025 for eligible retirees. The adjustment requires 22 years of service and age 50 at retirement, and excludes those receiving it from separate retirement dividends.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases retirement benefits, allows earlier retirement, and adds cost-of-living adjustment for public safety workers, expanding worker benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Retirement Benefits

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