Labor & Employment

signed · Iowa · House Jun 2, 2026

HF 1023: A bill for an act relating to benefits and contributions for members of the Iowa public employees’ retirement system who are employed in a protection occupation.

HF 1023 modifies the Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System (IPERS) for members in protection occupations, such as law enforcement and firefighters. The bill increases the employee contribution rate from 40% to 50% and decreases the employer contribution rate from 60% to 50% of the required contribution, effective July 1, 2025. For those retiring on or after July 1, 2025, it enhances the calculation of monthly retirement benefits for service beyond 22 years and allows retirement at age 50 with 22 years of service. Additionally, it establishes an annual 1.5% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for these members' monthly retirement allowances, replacing eligibility for other retirement dividends.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEnhances retirement benefits for service beyond 22 years, expanding worker benefits for protection occupation employees.90% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

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 | Rep's Stance Voted absent

died · Iowa · House Jun 27, 2025

HF 980: A bill for an act relating to unemployment insurance taxes on employers.

HF 980 changes Iowa's unemployment insurance tax system for employers. It reduces the percentage used to calculate taxable wages from 66.66% to 33.33% of the statewide average weekly wage (previously used for maximum benefit calculations), and adjusts the contribution rate tables to lower tax rates for most employers. The bill also requires employers to use any tax savings from these changes to pay employee salaries/benefits or cover seasonal unemployment, rather than keeping the savings. This directly affects all Iowa employers paying unemployment insurance taxes, particularly those with out-of-state workers, by lowering their tax burden under the new structure.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesReduces employer unemployment insurance tax rates, weakening state revenue for unemployment program funding.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires employers to use tax savings for employee salaries/benefits, directly advancing worker compensation under labor & employment policies.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

Track

signed · Iowa · House Jun 11, 2025

HF 969: A bill for an act concerning retirement contributions of and benefits associated with cancer diagnoses of members of certain public retirement systems, and including effective date provisions.

HF 969 modifies retirement benefits for public employees in Iowa who are diagnosed with cancer. It adjusts contribution requirements and benefit calculations specifically for members of certain public retirement systems (like state or municipal plans) who develop cancer. The bill establishes new rules for how retirement contributions are handled and benefits are calculated following a cancer diagnosis. It became law after being signed by the Governor on June 6, 2025, with fiscal note documentation confirming its implementation.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentModifies retirement benefits for public employees with cancer, expanding targeted benefits and adjusting contribution rules to protect affected workers' financial security.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Iowa · House Jun 6, 2025

HF 889: A bill for an act relating to government employee paid leave.

The provided bill text for HF 889 is not available, making it impossible to create a detailed summary of its specific provisions. Based solely on its title, "A bill for an act relating to government employee paid leave," this legislation concerns policies around paid leave for individuals employed by the government. Without the bill's content, the exact changes to who is affected or what mechanisms are introduced cannot be determined.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill proposes paid leave for government employees, expanding worker benefits under labor/employment policy per subjects listed.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Iowa · House Jun 6, 2025

HF 767: A bill for an act concerning private sector employee drug testing.

HF 767, now law after Governor's signature on June 6, 2025, establishes new rules for drug testing in private workplaces. It directly affects private employers and their employees by regulating when and how drug tests can be conducted. The bill's specific mechanisms - such as required consent, test accuracy standards, or employer reporting - are not detailed in the provided context. As a substantive policy change, it replaces previous standards with these new requirements for private sector drug testing. (Note: The context does not provide the bill's specific provisions, so key mechanisms cannot be described.)

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAdds consent requirements and accuracy standards for private sector drug testing, protecting employee rights during workplace testing.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Iowa · House May 27, 2025

HF 856: A bill for an act prohibiting public entities from engaging in certain activities relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion, creating a private cause of action, and including effective date provisions.

HF 856 prohibits public entities (like government agencies, schools, and state-funded programs) from implementing certain diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) activities. The bill creates a private right to sue for individuals who believe a public entity violated its provisions. Key mechanisms include banning specific DEI training, assessments, or hiring practices tied to protected characteristics, and allowing affected individuals to file lawsuits. It became law after the Governor signed it on May 27, 2025.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBans DEI hiring practices tied to protected characteristics, restricting anti-discrimination efforts central to labor rights and workplace equality.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Iowa · Senate May 19, 2025

SF 565: A bill for an act providing for the continuation of health insurance in certain circumstances for the surviving spouse and each surviving child of employees of the state of Iowa and including retroactive applicability provisions.

SF 565 provides for the continuation of health insurance coverage for the surviving spouses and children of employees of the state of Iowa. This bill ensures that these family members can maintain their health insurance benefits under specific conditions after the employee's death. It also includes provisions for retroactive applicability, meaning it could apply to past situations. The aim is to offer continued health coverage to these surviving families.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnsures continued health insurance coverage for surviving dependents of state employees, protecting existing benefits without coverage gaps per bill's purpose.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExtends health insurance benefits to surviving dependents of state employees, protecting family welfare after death under labor & employment subject category.85% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

signed · Iowa · House May 19, 2025

HF 297: A bill for an act relating to certain emergency services provided by a city.

This bill makes several changes related to emergency services provided by cities. It clarifies that cities can provide compensation, stipends, or benefits to volunteer firefighters and emergency medical care providers even if they hold other city offices. The bill also allows a currently serving city council member to be appointed as a volunteer fire chief, provided they abstain from voting on their own appointment. Furthermore, it permits cities to establish dedicated funds or reserve accounts for acquiring and maintaining major equipment for police, fire, rescue, and emergency medical services. These funds will receive insurance settlements or other payments for damaged emergency equipment, with a provision for reimbursing the city's general fund if it covered initial repair or replacement costs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allows cities to compensate volunteer emergency medical providers and clarifies rules for fire chiefs, supporting emergency medical services infrastructure.75% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands benefits and compensation for volunteer firefighters and emergency medical providers, allowing cities to provide stipends and establish dedicated funds for these workers.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Iowa · House May 19, 2025

HF 248: A bill for an act relating to the treatment of adoptive parent employees and making penalties applicable.

This bill requires employers to treat employees who adopt a child up to six years of age in the same manner as employees who are biological parents of a newborn child. This equal treatment applies to employment policies, benefits, and protections for the first year following the adoption. However, it clarifies that an employee is not entitled to disability leave under this provision without a qualifying disability. The bill directly affects employees who adopt children and their employers in Iowa.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands employee benefits by requiring equal treatment for adoptive parents, strengthening workplace protections for workers with family obligations.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment