Labor & Employment (Workforce Development)

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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signed · Iowa · Senate Jun 27, 2025

SF 645: A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations for the economic development of the state, including to the economic development authority, Iowa finance authority, department of workforce development, and the state board of regents and certain regents institutions, and extending the repeal date for the housing renewal pilot program.

SF 645 is an appropriations bill that allocates state funds to support economic development programs in Iowa. It provides funding to the Economic Development Authority, Iowa Finance Authority, Department of Workforce Development, and the State Board of Regents and their institutions. The bill also extends the end date for the Housing Renewal Pilot Program, allowing it to continue operating beyond its originally scheduled termination.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingExtends Housing Renewal Pilot Program duration, ensuring continued funding and operation of housing initiative per bill summary.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds Department of Workforce Development, which administers labor/employment programs like job training and unemployment services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Development Workforce Development

in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 28, 2025

SF 78: A bill for an act relating to certain specified skilled trades, including modifying provisions related to department of workforce development internship programs, the Iowa summer youth corps program, college student aid commission programs, the senior year plus program, the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics collaborative initiative within the innovation division of the department of education, and curricula provided in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools to include the skilled trades, and including applicability provisions.

SF 78 integrates skilled trades into Iowa's education and workforce programs. It requires school districts, nonpublic schools, and charter schools to include specific trades - like welding, carpentry, electrical work, and HVAC - into curricula. The bill creates internship programs with 1:1 wage matching (up to $5,000 per intern) for students in skilled trades or STEM fields, funded by the Department of Workforce Development. It also establishes regional STEM/trades networks and collaborative initiatives to expand program access statewide. These changes directly affect students, schools, and employers in Iowa's skilled trades sectors.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires skilled trades integration into K-12/college curricula, funds STEM/trades internships via workforce development, and establishes education department-led networks.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates paid internships with wage matching for skilled trades, funding workforce development programs to advance worker training and employment pathways.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Workforce Development

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 5, 2025

SSB 1068: A bill for an act relating to workforce training, unemployment insurance, adult education, and other functions and programs of the department of workforce development, the workforce development board, and local workforce development boards, and making appropriations.

SSB 1068 updates Iowa's workforce development laws to align with federal requirements. It revises definitions for national service programs (like AmeriCorps and RefugeeRISE), requires local workforce boards to develop federally compliant plans, and mandates new reporting on education and job training outcomes. The bill affects the Department of Workforce Development, local workforce boards, and job seekers accessing training programs. Key changes include repealing outdated sections (84A.7-84A.11) and adding requirements for annual reports on scholarship program participation and employment outcomes.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill updates adult education programs, mandates reporting on education outcomes, and aligns with federal requirements for workforce training programs under education subject.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentUpdates workforce laws to align with federal standards, mandates reporting on job training outcomes, and affects unemployment programs - strengthening program effectiveness under Labor & Employment.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid Unemployment Workforce Development

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 3, 2025

SSB 1165: A bill for an act relating to employer recordkeeping and auditing requirements for purposes of unemployment insurance and including applicability provisions.

This bill requires Iowa employers to maintain accurate work records related to unemployment insurance for three years after remuneration is paid (or due). It mandates that the Department of Workforce Development conduct field audits of employer records to verify compliance with unemployment insurance rules, including pre-audit interviews and detailed reviews of pay records for at least one employee per quarter. Employers must provide access to documents like pay stubs, W-2 forms, tax returns, and business licenses during audits. The bill also establishes procedures for employers to contest audit decisions regarding employee eligibility under unemployment insurance rules.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires accurate employer records and audits to verify unemployment insurance compliance, protecting workers' access to benefits under labor & employment framework.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment Workforce Development

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 11, 2025

SF 222: A bill for an act relating to workforce training, unemployment insurance, adult education, and other functions and programs of the department of workforce development, the workforce development board, and local workforce development boards, and making appropriations.

This bill (SF 222) updates Iowa's workforce development system by restructuring how the Department of Workforce Development, workforce development boards, and local boards administer training, unemployment insurance, and adult education programs. It requires local workforce development boards to create approved plans aligned with federal rules, establishes a statewide skills assessment for adult workers, and mandates annual reports tracking program outcomes like job placements and scholarship usage. The bill also formally integrates existing AmeriCorps programs into the "Iowa National Service Corps" and removes outdated sections of law. These changes directly affect job training providers, state agencies managing workforce programs, and residents accessing employment services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly makes appropriations for workforce development programs, funding essential public services as required by title and subjects list.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds workforce training, unemployment insurance, and adult education programs while mandating job placement tracking and federal-aligned planning per labor & employment subjects.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment Workforce Development

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in committee · Iowa · House Mar 13, 2025

HSB 306: A bill for an act modifying the research activities tax credit available against the individual and corporate income taxes, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.

This bill modifies Iowa's research activities tax credit for individuals and corporations. It reduces the credit amount based on the number of layoffs a claimant experienced during the tax year: 50% reduction for 1,500+ layoffs, 25% for 1,000-1,500, 12.5% for 500-1,000, and 6.25% for fewer than 500 layoffs. The Department of Revenue must review workforce development layoff notices before approving the credit and can recapture previously claimed credits that don't meet these requirements. The changes apply retroactively to tax years beginning January 1, 2024.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill reduces tax credits for companies with high layoffs, discouraging job cuts and supporting employment stability through financial disincentives.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment Workforce Development

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died · Iowa · House Mar 18, 2025

HF 722: A bill for an act relating to workforce training, unemployment insurance, and other functions and programs of the department of workforce development, the workforce development board, and local workforce development boards.

HF 722 amends Iowa's workforce development laws to update program definitions, streamline local planning, and improve reporting. It explicitly includes existing AmeriCorps programs (like RefugeeRISE and Iowa Green Corps) under "Iowa national service corps," requires local workforce boards to submit plans following federal rules for department approval, and mandates annual joint reports with the Education Department on scholarship outcomes. The bill also repeals outdated sections (84A.7-84A.11) and clarifies the Department of Workforce Development's role in administering unemployment insurance and job training. These changes directly affect Iowa workers, training programs, and state/local agencies managing workforce development.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAmends workforce development laws to include AmeriCorps programs, streamline local planning, and mandate joint reporting on scholarship outcomes, strengthening workforce training and unemployment insurance programs.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment Workforce Development

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 12, 2025

HF 348: A bill for an act prohibiting the misclassification of employees as independent contractors, providing penalties, and including applicability provisions.

HF 348 prohibits Iowa employers from willfully misclassifying workers as independent contractors when they should be classified as employees under current federal IRS guidelines. This directly affects employers who misclassify workers, denying them benefits like unemployment insurance or workers' compensation. The bill imposes escalating civil penalties ($5,000-$10,000 per misclassified worker) for violations, with the Department of Workforce Development enforcing the law through written notices and potential court action. Employers must prove they did not misclassify workers to contest penalties, and repeated violations constitute a class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison and fines. The law applies to misclassifications occurring on or after its effective date.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits misclassification denying workers benefits, imposes penalties to protect rights and entitlements under federal guidelines.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Gig Economy Unemployment Workforce Development

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 17, 2025

HF 432: A bill for an act relating to eligibility for financial assistance from the department of workforce development for certain apprenticeship programs.

HF 432 modifies eligibility for financial assistance from Iowa's Department of Workforce Development for apprenticeship programs. It allows sponsors of programs registered with the U.S. Department of Labor (through Iowa) to apply for funding if their programs meet minimum contact hour requirements: 75 hours per apprentice in the first training year and 100 hours per apprentice for each subsequent full year. This changes current law, which required 100 contact hours per apprentice annually for all training years. The bill directly affects Iowa-based apprenticeship sponsors seeking state funding to support training costs.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentModifies funding eligibility to lower contact hour requirements, expanding access to apprenticeship programs that support workforce development and worker skill-building.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Apprenticeships Labor Standards Workforce Development

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