Iowa Bills

in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SF 2046: A bill for an act relating to wage payment collection issues arising between employers and employees, providing penalties and remedies, and including effective date provisions.

This Iowa bill requires employers to prove wage deductions are lawful and mandates written notices about pay schedules, wage calculation methods, and changes affecting pay. It demands detailed pay statements showing hours worked, sales, miles, or other metrics for each pay period. Employers face penalties including liquidated damages for intentional nonpayment of wages, and the law prohibits retaliation against employees who file wage complaints. The bill directly affects Iowa employers and employees by strengthening wage transparency and enforcement.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SF 2036: A bill for an act requiring pilot car escorts for the movement of certain implements of husbandry, and making penalties applicable.

This bill requires a separate pilot vehicle to lead or follow farm equipment exceeding 22 feet in width or extending over the road centerline when traveling on most Iowa highways. It applies to large agricultural machinery (like combines or large trailers) moving on multi-lane roads or two-lane roads with one lane in each direction, but exempts trips under one mile on primary, farm-to-market, or paved secondary roads. Violating this rule is a $45 misdemeanor fine. The law changes existing safety rules by adding this escort requirement for farm equipment on non-interstate highways, where current regulations did not address such size or positioning.

Topics ✓ Transportation

in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SF 2041: A bill for an act providing for payroll deduction for membership dues to an employee organization under public employee collective bargaining, and including applicability provisions.

This bill requires public employers in Iowa to negotiate whether to allow payroll deductions for union membership dues as part of collective bargaining agreements. It directly affects state employees who are union members and their public employers. The bill establishes that such deductions continue for one year or until the collective bargaining agreement expires, unless an employee transfers to a different position or becomes a management employee. Employees can terminate deductions with 30 days' written notice, and the law applies to bargaining under Chapter 20 starting from its effective date.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SF 2042: A bill for an act relating to trains idling near residential zones, and making penalties applicable.

This bill bars railway corporations from idling train engines longer than one hour when stationary within half a mile of residential neighborhoods in cities. It directly affects rail companies operating near homes, imposing fines of $500 to $5,000 per violation for exceeding the time limit. The rule applies to any stationary train in city areas zoned for housing, with penalties enforced under existing state code. The law aims to reduce noise and pollution from prolonged engine idling near residential properties.

Topics ✓ Environment ✓ Transportation

in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SF 2045: 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.

This bill proposes increasing Iowa's state minimum hourly wage to $15.00 starting July 1, 2026, for most workers, with a lower rate of $14.10 for employees in their first 90 days of employment. It requires annual wage adjustments beginning July 1, 2027, tied directly to the federal Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) from the previous year. The bill ensures wages can only increase, never decrease, and applies to all covered workers in Iowa. This affects low-wage employees and employers across the state, with the first major increase set for 2026.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment