Labor & Employment

signed · Iowa · House May 27, 2025

HF 856: A bill for an act prohibiting public entities from engaging in certain activities relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion, creating a private cause of action, and including effective date provisions.

HF 856 prohibits public entities (like government agencies, schools, and state-funded programs) from implementing certain diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) activities. The bill creates a private right to sue for individuals who believe a public entity violated its provisions. Key mechanisms include banning specific DEI training, assessments, or hiring practices tied to protected characteristics, and allowing affected individuals to file lawsuits. It became law after the Governor signed it on May 27, 2025.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBans DEI hiring practices tied to protected characteristics, restricting anti-discrimination efforts central to labor rights and workplace equality.95% confidence

died · Iowa · House May 14, 2025

HF 1054: A bill for an act relating to matters under the purview of the Iowa economic development authority and the department of workforce development, including tax credit limits, the major economic growth attraction program, layoffs and facility closures, the brownfield redevelopment fund, and the Iowa economic emergency fund; creation of the business incentives for growth program, the seed investor tax credit program, the Iowa film production incentive program, the research and development tax credit program, and the sustainable aviation fuel production tax credit program; elimination of the high quality jobs program, the investments in qualifying businesses tax credit, employer child care tax credits, assistive device tax credits, endow Iowa tax credits, and research activities tax credits; and including effective date provisions and criminal penalties.

HF 1054 overhauls Iowa's economic development initiatives by creating new programs and eliminating several existing tax credits. It establishes new programs like the Business Incentives for Growth Program, a Seed Investor Tax Credit, an Iowa Film Production Incentive, and new programs for Research and Development and Sustainable Aviation Fuel production. Concurrently, the bill eliminates existing tax credits for high quality jobs, investments in qualifying businesses, employer child care, assistive devices, and previous research activities. A key provision sets an aggregate annual limit of $170 million for certain tax credits and outlines how these funds are allocated among the various economic development programs.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentEliminates employer child care tax credits, directly weakening workplace benefits for workers under Labor & Employment subjects.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Workforce Development Tags Economic Development

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passed · Iowa · Senate May 15, 2025

SF 507: A bill for an act restricting county and city diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

Senate File 507 proposes to restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs within county and city governments in Iowa. The bill would prevent counties and cities from establishing DEI offices or hiring staff to perform DEI-related duties. It also prohibits local governments from requiring DEI statements or giving preferential consideration based on them. The bill defines "diversity, equity, and inclusion" broadly, including efforts to influence composition or promote differential treatment based on characteristics like race, sex, or gender identity, and restricts the promotion of certain related concepts. However, it explicitly allows for legal compliance activities related to federal anti-discrimination laws.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentRestricts DEI programs designed to prevent employment discrimination, weakening worker protection standards in government hiring and contracting.90% confidence

Tags Local Government

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introduced · Iowa · Legislature

1186XD: Economic Development Programs and Credits (1186XD) - Economic Development Authority

This bill reorganizes Iowa's economic development tax credit programs. It creates five new programs (business incentives for growth, seed investor credits, film production incentives, R&D credits, and sustainable aviation fuel credits) while eliminating seven existing ones (including high quality jobs and employer childcare credits). The bill sets a $170 million annual limit for most tax credits, with specific allocations like $68 million for high quality jobs (though this program is being eliminated), $40 million for R&D credits, and $50 million for the new business incentives program. It also requires the Economic Development Authority to report annual credit allocations to the Department of Revenue.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill reorganizes tax credits within $170M annual cap, promoting fiscal responsibility by capping total spending on credits while creating new targeted incentives.85% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyCreates sustainable aviation fuel credits, a renewable energy incentive, advancing clean energy infrastructure95% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentEliminates high quality jobs and employer childcare credits, defunding labor-related support programs directly tied to employment standards.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Incentives Tags Economic Development

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died · Iowa · House Mar 4, 2025

HF 261: A bill for an act relating to the Iowa public employees’ retirement system’s notification requirements to members.

HF 261 would have repealed a requirement that the Iowa public employees’ retirement system must send written notices to members who leave their jobs before retiring. This notice would have included their account balance and explained options like rolling funds into another retirement plan. The bill directly affected Iowa public employees who terminate employment before retirement age. If passed, it would have eliminated this notification process, removing a specific communication obligation from the retirement system. The bill was introduced in February 2025 but withdrawn the same month after being substituted.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentRepeals mandatory retirement account notification for public employees, weakening access to benefits upon job separation by removing critical financial information.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Retirement Benefits

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in committee · Iowa · House Mar 7, 2025

HSB 155: A bill for an act prohibiting state entities from expending moneys to fund diversity, equity, and inclusion offices or to hire individuals to serve as diversity, equity, and inclusion officers, creating a private cause of action, and including effective date provisions.

This bill prohibits Iowa state entities (including local governments, schools, and agencies) from using public funds to create, support, or staff diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices or hire DEI officers. It defines prohibited activities broadly, including efforts related to race, gender identity, or concepts like "systemic oppression" or "anti-racism," while exempting federal compliance offices (e.g., Title IX staff) and academic departments. The law allows any individual - students, alumni, or employees - to sue a state entity for violations seeking court orders to stop funding or hiring DEI roles. It takes effect immediately upon enactment, with no sunset provision.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationProhibits public funding for DEI offices in schools, restricting diversity initiatives and curriculum-related programs under education policy.95% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentProhibits state funding for DEI offices, undermining workplace diversity initiatives and worker protection efforts under labor & employment standards.85% confidence

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 6, 2025

HSB 73: A bill for an act relating to the Iowa public employees’ retirement system’s notification requirements to members.

HSB 73 repeals a requirement that the Iowa public employees’ retirement system must send written notices to members who leave their jobs before retiring. This bill directly affects public employees in Iowa who terminate covered employment, as it removes the obligation for the retirement system to provide them with account balance details and explanation of options at their last known address. The key provision is simply eliminating this specific notification process under Code chapter 97B. The bill does not create new benefits or alter retirement eligibility, only repealing an existing communication requirement.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentRemoves retirement notification requirement, weakening employee access to benefit information and account details upon job separation.85% confidence

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 22, 2025

SSB 1014: A bill for an act concerning private sector employee drug testing.

This bill amends Iowa's private sector drug testing law to clarify that employers can directly designate "safety-sensitive positions" (jobs where accidents could cause serious harm) without requiring supervision of other safety-sensitive roles. It allows employers to notify employees about positive test results via email or in-person delivery instead of mandatory certified mail, with employee consent. The bill also updates civil remedies, requiring employees to prove violations caused their damages to recover attorney fees, while shifting the burden to employers to prove compliance in legal disputes. These changes streamline notification processes and clarify legal responsibilities for employers and employees.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill eases employer drug testing requirements (removing certified mail notice), clarifies safety-sensitive roles without oversight, and shifts burden to workers in civil cases to prove damages, weakening protections.85% confidence

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 29, 2025

SSB 1033: A bill for an act relating to the Iowa public employees’ retirement system’s notification requirements to members.

SSB 1033 removes a requirement for Iowa's public employees' retirement system to send a written notice to members who leave their jobs before retiring. This notice would have included their account balance, retirement status, and options for their benefits. The bill directly affects public employees who terminate employment prior to retirement, eliminating the system's obligation to provide this specific notification. The change is implemented by repealing Section 97B.53A of the Iowa Code.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentRemoves mandatory notification of retirement benefits upon termination, reducing information access for public employees regarding their benefits.92% confidence

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 13, 2025

HSB 7: A bill for an act relating to physical examinations of personnel working in licensed or registered child care facilities.

This bill removes a requirement that personnel working in Iowa's licensed or registered child care facilities must undergo pre-employment physical examinations. Currently, staff must get exams from a licensed doctor within six months before starting work (including communicable disease tests) and every three years after hire. The bill eliminates this mandate entirely, meaning facilities will no longer need to verify these health screenings for new or existing employees. This change directly affects child care workers and the facilities employing them, removing a specific health verification process from state law.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentRemoves mandatory health screenings for child care staff, weakening workplace safety regulations under Labor & Employment.85% confidence

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