Labor & Employment

This Iowa bill protects private employees who disclose workplace violations or safety hazards to lawmakers. It prohibits employers from stopping such disclosures, punishing employees for making them, or requiring employees to notify them about disclosures. Employees facing retaliation can seek court-ordered reinstatement, back pay, or compensation (up to three times annual wages). The bill also ensures these disclosures remain confidential and prevents employers from using deceptive tactics to avoid liability.

This bill prohibits considering a motor carrier's use of safety improvements when determining a person's employment status under state law. It directly affects motor carriers and the individuals who work for them, such as drivers, whose classification as an employee, independent contractor, or jointly employed person is being assessed. The bill specifies that any device, equipment, software, training, or policy primarily intended to improve traffic safety cannot be a factor in these employment status decisions. The aim is to ensure that efforts to enhance safety within the motor carrier industry do not influence legal employment classifications.