Labor & Employment

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 & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates dedicated wage enforcement division to directly protect workers' rights under wage payment, minimum wage, and child labor laws, prioritizing state-level enforcement over federal referrals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Child Labor Labor Standards Minimum Wage

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in committee · Iowa · House Mar 4, 2025

HF 48: A bill for an act prohibiting employer control of employee political candidacy and contributions, and making penalties applicable.

HF 48 requires public employers in Iowa to grant leave to public employees running for elected office during election periods (30 days before an election until the day after) and prohibits public employers from retaliating against employees who seek public office. The bill also prohibits all employers in Iowa from restricting employees' political contributions, such as by requiring approval, setting contribution limits, or punishing employees for contributing or not contributing to political committees. Violating the public employee provisions is a simple misdemeanor (up to 30 days in jail or a $855 fine), while violating contribution restrictions is a serious misdemeanor (up to one year in jail or a $2,560 fine). The bill directly affects public employees seeking elected office and all employers operating in Iowa.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits employer retaliation for seeking office and restricts political contribution limitations, directly protecting workers' rights under employment standards as defined in the topic.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Employees

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in committee · Iowa · House Mar 5, 2025

HF 742: A bill for an act establishing requirements relating to heat response in work areas and providing penalties.

HF 742 requires Iowa employers to provide heat safety measures for workers exposed to extreme heat conditions (heat index ≥90°F). Specifically, it mandates employers to offer shaded areas for outdoor workers, provide at least 32 ounces of cool drinking water hourly, and implement adjusted work-rest schedules (10 minutes every 2 hours for 90-100°F, 15 minutes hourly above 100°F). The law applies to all employers with employees working in heat-exposed environments and includes penalties of up to $500 per violation for noncompliance. Enforcement falls to the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing, which will oversee compliance and issue fines.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates employer heat safety measures (shaded areas, water, rest schedules) for outdoor workers in extreme heat, directly improving workplace safety protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Workplace Safety

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in committee · Iowa · House Mar 5, 2025

HF 750: A bill for an act relating to leave of absence from civil employment provided to members of the military.

This bill (HF 750) expands leave rights for Iowa state and local government employees who serve in the military. It ensures these employees receive a leave of absence - including travel time to and from military duty - without losing pay, status, or performance ratings during their first 30 days of active duty. The bill also allows leave for inactive duty training hours and clarifies that for workdays spanning 24 hours, only one day of leave is required. It applies to members of the National Guard, military reserves, Civil Air Patrol, and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands leave rights for military-serving employees without pay/status loss, protecting workers' rights under labor & employment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave Public Employees

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in committee · Iowa · House Mar 6, 2025

HF 823: A bill for an act relating to unpaid leave for appointments with a county commission of veteran affairs.

HF 823 grants Iowa veterans employed by private or public entities the right to unpaid leave for appointments with their county commission of veteran affairs. Veterans must provide employers with a written request at least five days in advance (or 24 hours in emergencies), and employers cannot deny this leave without a good-faith reason or retaliate against veterans for using it. The bill designates denial of such leave or retaliation as an unfair employment practice, allowing veterans to file complaints with the Iowa Office of Civil Rights. This directly affects veterans needing to access county-level veteran services while employed.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentGrants veterans unpaid leave rights with anti-retaliation protections, designating denial as unfair employment practice under Labor & Employment.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransGrants veterans unpaid leave for county veteran affairs appointments, prohibits employer denial/retaliation, and designates violations as unfair employment practices, directly advancing access to veteran services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave National Guard & Reserve Veteran Benefits Veteran Employment

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 28, 2025

HF 682: A bill for an act relating to the recapture of tax expenditures and disbursed by departments of the state to businesses that violate child labor laws.

HF 682 requires Iowa state departments to recapture tax incentives (such as credits, exemptions, or rebates) from businesses that violate state or federal child labor laws (under Iowa Code chapter 92 or the Fair Labor Standards Act). It applies to businesses receiving state tax benefits and extends to their contractors, subcontractors, or third parties working at the business's facility. Beginning July 1, 2025, if a violation occurs, the business must notify the administering department within 30 days of the appeal period ending, and the state will reclaim the tax benefits using the same process as for unpaid taxes. This bill directly affects businesses receiving state tax incentives who breach child labor protections.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRecaptures tax incentives from violators, closing a loophole to ensure fiscal responsibility in tax administration.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires recapture of tax incentives from businesses violating child labor laws, enforcing compliance and protecting minors in the workplace.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Incentives Child Labor Labor Standards

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 10, 2025

SF 509: A bill for an act relating to employment status and employment benefits and including applicability provisions.

This bill requires employers with 15 or more employees to continue health insurance coverage for workers injured on the job (with valid workers' compensation claims) for at least six months after they leave employment, if the employer provided coverage at the time of injury. Employers failing to comply must reimburse employees for uncovered medical costs related to the injury. The bill also clarifies definitions of "independent contractor" in Iowa law (amending Sections 85.61 and 91A.2), specifying criteria like worker independence from employer control and excluding such workers from "employee" definitions for benefits purposes. These provisions apply to injuries occurring on or after the bill's effective date.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires employers to maintain health coverage for work injury victims post-employment, preventing coverage gaps and protecting access to healthcare services for injured workers.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates continued health coverage for injured workers post-employment, requiring employer reimbursement for uncovered costs, directly strengthening worker benefits and workplace safety protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Gig Economy Workers' Compensation

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 10, 2025

SF 502: A bill for an act requiring certain employers to include pay scale information in communications offering employment, and providing penalties.

SF 502 requires Iowa employers with 15 or more employees to include a specific pay scale (salary or hourly range) directly in all job postings, ads, or recruitment communications - without allowing references to external sources. It applies to both direct employers and third parties (like job boards) handling recruitment. Violations carry civil penalties of $100 to $10,000 per offense, enforced by Iowa’s Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing. The law aims to increase pay transparency for job seekers in Iowa.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates pay transparency in job postings to protect workers from wage discrimination, aligning with workers' rights protections under Labor & Employment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 11, 2025

SF 530: A bill for an act relating to support of direct care services and the direct care workforce, establishing a state minimum hourly wage for direct care workers under the Medicaid program, and including a contingent effective date.

SF 530 establishes a phased minimum wage increase for direct care workers employed by Medicaid providers in Iowa, starting at $15/hour on July 1, 2026, rising $1 annually to $20/hour by July 1, 2031, with future cost-of-living adjustments. It directly affects home health aides, personal assistants, certified nursing assistants, and other direct care workers providing services under Medicaid. The bill requires Medicaid providers to pay these wages, but takes effect only after the state increases Medicaid reimbursement rates to cover the cost. The measure also includes requirements for workforce surveys and reviews of past funding impacts on wages.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes Medicaid direct care worker wage increases to $20/hr by 2031, directly strengthening healthcare workforce compensation and service quality under public health program.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEstablishes phased minimum wage increase from $15 to $20/hr for Medicaid direct care workers, directly advancing wage protections for covered workforce.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Minimum Wage

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 12, 2025

SF 504: A bill for an act relating to unemployment insurance taxes on employers.

SF 504 amends Iowa's unemployment insurance tax rules for employers. It modifies the definition of "taxable wages" by removing wages paid to employees from other states that have reciprocal agreements with Iowa. The bill also adds a 10% surcharge on employers with three-year average benefit ratios of 1.25 or higher, and requires employers to use any tax savings from the bill for employee wages or seasonal unemployment alternatives. These changes adjust how employer contribution rates are calculated based on benefit ratio rankings and fund reserve levels.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAdds 10% surcharge on high-benefit employers and mandates tax savings for workforce wages, strengthening fiscal management of unemployment fund.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires tax savings from adjusted employer contributions to be used for employee wages or seasonal unemployment alternatives, directly supporting worker compensation and wage increases.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Fees & Licensing Unemployment

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