Labor & Employment (Professional Licensing) in Iowa

in committee · Iowa · House Mar 2, 2026

HF 2466: A bill for an act relating to apprenticeships and other career training and making appropriations.

HF 2466, the "Iowa Skilled Workforce Act," clarifies and expands apprenticeship program rules in Iowa. It defines key terms like "intermediary sponsor" (an entity training apprentices for multiple employers) and sets requirements for financial assistance, including a minimum of 100 contact hours per apprentice annually. The bill also establishes a 3-apprentice-to-1-journeyperson supervision ratio for plumbers and mechanical professionals. It affects apprenticeship sponsors, employers, and intermediaries by standardizing program administration, financial aid criteria, and oversight procedures.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Apprenticeships Professional Licensing Workforce Development

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 18, 2026

HF 2588: A bill for an act establishing a water and wastewater operator apprenticeship and work release pilot program for inmates, and making appropriations.

HF 2588 creates a pilot program allowing eligible inmates to train as certified water and wastewater operators through classroom instruction, on-the-job training, and supervised work release placements. It directly affects inmates serving nonviolent sentences within 24 months of release who demonstrate good behavior and meet certification requirements. The program aims to address statewide operator shortages while providing vocational training and post-release employment pathways, with $500,000 appropriated for implementation during fiscal year 2026-2027. The program requires annual reporting on participant outcomes and expires January 16, 2029.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Apprenticeships Professional Licensing Workforce Development

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 19, 2026

HSB 663: A bill for an act relating to qualifications for certain rights and privileges prescribed by the state, including state employment, professional licensure, voter registration, and bail, and making penalties applicable.

HB 663 requires state agencies to verify U.S. citizenship or immigration status for specific rights and privileges. It mandates using the federal SAVE program to confirm eligibility for state-issued professional licenses, voter registration (requiring a citizenship affirmation oath), and employment (via e-Verify for new hires). The bill defines "unauthorized alien" as unlawfully present under federal law and applies this standard to deny professional licenses or affect bail decisions for certain offenses. It directly affects applicants for licenses, voters, and individuals facing pretrial detention in cases involving "forcible felonies." The policy changes focus on implementing federal verification systems for state-level eligibility determinations.

Topics ✗ Immigration ✗ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Work Authorization Professional Licensing

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 16, 2026

HSB 674: A bill for an act relating to apprenticeships and other career training and making appropriations.

This bill, the "Iowa Skilled Workforce Act," updates Iowa's apprenticeship framework to support career training. It creates clear definitions for "intermediary sponsors" (entities training multiple employers) and clarifies that partner employers (those using intermediaries) must follow the intermediary's standards. The bill also adds financial assistance for apprenticeship programs meeting a minimum of 100 training hours per apprentice annually and updates plumbing/mechanics licensing rules to allow up to three apprentices per licensed supervisor. It directly affects apprenticeship sponsors, employers, and training programs across Iowa.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Apprenticeships Professional Licensing Workforce Development

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 10, 2026

HF 2383: A bill for an act relating to training for health care facility inspectors, and making appropriations.

HF 2383 creates a program to help certified nurse aides transition into health care facility inspector roles. It requires the state department to establish continuing education for dual certification as both a nurse aide and inspector, and funds a grant program offering up to $2,000 per applicant to cover training costs based on their experience and training needs. The bill also mandates community colleges to develop a 30-40 hour certificate program on inspection processes, abuse prevention, and incident reporting, designed to complement nursing assistant training. These provisions aim to expand the pool of qualified inspectors while providing structured pathways for current nurse aides to advance their careers.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Long-Term Care Professional Licensing

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 18, 2026

HF 2129: A bill for an act establishing a water and wastewater operator apprenticeship and work release pilot program for inmates, and making appropriations.

HF 2129 establishes a pilot program allowing eligible inmates in Iowa to train as certified water and wastewater operators through classroom instruction, on-the-job training, and supervised work release placements. It directly affects inmates serving nonviolent sentences within 24 months of release who meet behavioral and qualification criteria, aiming to address statewide operator shortages while providing post-release employment pathways. The program requires collaboration between corrections, natural resources, workforce development, and local utilities, with $500,000 appropriated for implementation in fiscal year 2026-2027. Annual reports on participation, certification rates, employment, and recidivism must be submitted to the legislature, and the program expires January 16, 2029.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Apprenticeships Professional Licensing Workforce Development

introduced · Iowa · Legislature

1430XD: Department of Education, Programs and Duties (1430XD) - Education, Department of

This bill modifies Iowa's education reporting requirements, establishes a national board certification pilot program for teachers, and updates employee compensation for staff at Iowa's educational services for the blind and deaf. It requires community colleges to submit annual financial data directly to the Iowa Department of Education (DE) by March 15, with DE including a statewide summary in its annual report to lawmakers by February 1. The bill allocates $508,250 for teacher certification awards under the pilot program and mandates DE to establish annual compensation schedules for employees of the blind/visually impaired and deaf programs. These changes affect community colleges, public school teachers seeking certification, and staff at specialized educational programs.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Teachers Professional Licensing

in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 30, 2025

SF 132: A bill for an act relating to Medicaid coverage of maternity care including doula care.

This bill requires Iowa's Medicaid program to cover doula care as part of maternity services for eligible recipients. It directs the Department of Health and Human Services to establish rules for doula certification, enrollment as providers, and fair reimbursement rates that support a livable income for doulas. The policy aims to improve birth outcomes, reduce stillbirths and infant deaths, and lower maternal mortality by expanding access to continuous physical, emotional, and informational support during pregnancy and childbirth. The bill applies specifically to Medicaid-covered maternity care under both fee-for-service and managed care models.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Women's Health Professional Licensing

in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 3, 2025

SF 452: A bill for an act relating to employment matters involving public employees including collective bargaining, educator employment matters, personnel records and settlement agreements, city civil service requirements, and health insurance matters, and including effective date, applicability, and transition provisions.

SF 452 amends Iowa's public employee collective bargaining laws, directly affecting state and local government workers (including educators) and their unions. Key provisions include requiring written member consent for dues checkoff, specifying negotiable topics like health and safety (while excluding retirement systems), and revising election rules to prevent frequent union representation changes. The bill updates procedures for union certification, decertification, and collective bargaining agreements, with new rules limiting election petitions for one year after a certification or decertification. It also clarifies that public employers must negotiate in good faith on agreed-upon topics without forcing concessions.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Professional Licensing Public Employees

All labor & employment bills