Labor & Employment (Minimum Wage) in Iowa

in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 23, 2025

SF 101: 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.

SF 101 increases Iowa's state minimum hourly wage to $15.00 for most workers starting July 1, 2025, and sets a separate $14.10 minimum for new employees during their first 90 days of employment. The bill automatically raises both wage rates annually on July 1 beginning in 2026, using the same percentage as federal Social Security cost-of-living adjustments. It ensures the minimum wage never decreases and applies to all employers covered by Iowa's wage laws.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 10, 2025

HF 283: 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.

HF 283 raises Iowa's minimum hourly wage to $10.00 starting July 1, 2025, then to $12.50 on July 1, 2026, and $15.00 on July 1, 2027. It establishes a lower starting wage of $9.10 for new employees during their first 90 days of employment, increasing to $11.60 and $14.10 in 2026 and 2027 respectively. After 2027, the minimum wage will automatically increase annually on July 1 by the same percentage as the federal Social Security cost-of-living adjustment. The bill ensures the wage never decreases and affects all hourly workers in Iowa, including new hires during their initial 90-day period.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 12, 2025

HF 349: A bill for an act relating to the state minimum hourly wage.

HF 349 increases Iowa's state minimum hourly wage to $13.50 effective July 1, 2025. It requires all Iowa employers covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act to pay employees the higher of the state minimum wage or the current federal minimum wage. The bill removes a previous exception that allowed employers to pay less than the state minimum wage to employees working fewer than 90 days, ensuring all covered employees earn at least the state minimum wage. This directly affects all hourly workers in Iowa covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Child Labor Labor Standards Minimum Wage

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 13, 2025

HF 375: A bill for an act establishing a state minimum hourly wage for direct care professionals.

HF 375 proposes setting Iowa's minimum hourly wage for direct care professionals at $20.00 starting July 1, 2025, with a $19.10 minimum for those with less than 90 days of employment. It directly affects employers in nursing facilities, home care, and child care centers who hire workers providing personal care, health services, or support for people with illnesses or disabilities. The bill defines "direct care professionals" to include home health aides, certified nurse aides, and similar roles. This state wage requirement will apply instead of the federal minimum wage if it is lower. The bill is currently in the Labor and Workforce committee after introduction on February 13, 2025.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Long-Term Care Labor Standards Minimum Wage

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 19, 2025

HF 478: A bill for an act requiring the payment of local prevailing wage rates to persons working on public improvements for public bodies, providing remedies and penalties, and including effective date provisions.

HF 478 requires contractors working on public projects (like roads, schools, or infrastructure) to pay workers the local prevailing wage rate, which includes both hourly pay and benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. It applies to all public bodies (including cities, counties, school districts, and state agencies) and their contractors or subcontractors. The Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing will set the prevailing wage rates for each county and enforce compliance, with penalties for violations. The law aims to ensure fair pay standards and prevent undercutting of local wages on public works projects.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 19, 2025

SF 355: A bill for an act relating to overtime pay earned by state employees.

This bill provides overtime pay for Iowa state employees earning under $125,000 annually who are not covered by federal overtime rules (Fair Labor Standards Act). It requires these employees to receive 1.5 times their regular hourly rate for overtime hours worked. The bill mandates that salaries for such employees must be set on an hourly basis, not as an annual salary. This change directly affects non-exempt state workers in positions previously not eligible for overtime under state law.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage Public Employees

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 24, 2025

SF 380: A bill for an act relating to prohibitions on noncompete covenants involving nurses and including applicability provisions.

SF 380 prohibits noncompete agreements for nurses in Iowa, directly affecting registered nurses and advanced registered nurse practitioners. It makes noncompete clauses void if a nurse earns under 150% of the minimum wage, and requires employers to prove such agreements are narrowly tailored to prevent unfair competition for higher-earning nurses. Violations entitle nurses to recover lost wages, attorney fees, and up to triple damages for willful violations, with employers facing $5,000 fines per violation. The law applies to agreements entered into on or after its effective date.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Minimum Wage

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 26, 2025

HF 611: A bill for an act providing for increased wage rates for required work on certain holidays and making penalties and remedies applicable.

HF 611 requires Iowa employers to pay employees 1.5 times their regular hourly wage for work performed on specific holidays, including legal public holidays, designated paid holidays, federal holidays observed by the U.S. Postal Service, and federal banking holidays. This directly affects employees working on those days and their employers across all industries covered by Iowa wage laws. The bill establishes that this higher pay rate applies automatically when work is required on these designated days, with enforcement handled by the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing under existing wage law provisions. Violations can result in penalties, damages, or civil fines.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 26, 2025

HF 538: A bill for an act relating to employment of persons with disabilities.

HF 538 requires Iowa employers to pay workers with disabilities at least the state minimum wage starting July 1, 2026, ending a federal exception that previously allowed lower wages for some disabled employees. It declares competitive and integrated employment (working alongside non-disabled peers in typical workplaces at or above minimum wage) as the preferred option for state programs helping people with disabilities find jobs. State agencies must implement this policy in their employment services, and the state will conduct outreach to help employers understand the new wage rule. Nonprofits operating sheltered workshops are temporarily exempt until July 1, 2027, after which the exemption ends.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Minimum Wage Tags People with Disabilities

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 28, 2025

HF 681: A bill for an act establishing a wage and hour division in the department of inspections, appeals, and licensing.

HF 681 creates a dedicated wage and hour division within Iowa's Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing. This division will directly enforce state wage laws under chapters 91A (wage payment), 91D (minimum wage), and 92 (child labor) for workers and employers across Iowa. Key provisions require the division to investigate wage violations and prioritize state-level enforcement over referring cases to the federal Department of Labor. The bill mandates that the division handle enforcement activities, including penalties, for these specific labor laws rather than relying on federal authorities. This establishes a permanent state mechanism for wage enforcement previously managed under broader departmental responsibilities.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Child Labor Labor Standards Minimum Wage

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