This bill requires recyclers of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) to complete a DOT-approved safety training program on handling high-voltage batteries by January 1, 2027. It directly affects authorized vehicle recyclers who dismantle or process these specific vehicle types, mandating they display a program completion certificate alongside their license. The key provision creates a new education requirement for safe battery handling, with the DOT responsible for approving training programs and issuing certificates. Violating this rule is punishable as a serious misdemeanor, with fines up to $2,560 and up to one year in jail. The law applies only to recyclers, not vehicle owners or manufacturers.
This bill requires Iowa school bus drivers to complete a department-approved training course within six months of starting work and every 24 months thereafter. It allows the Iowa Department of Education to accept proof of federal entry-level driver training (ELDT) that includes school bus and passenger endorsement curriculum as meeting this requirement, aligning with federal safety standards. Drivers who fail to provide proof of completion will lose their school bus authorization until they complete the required training. The bill directly affects all current and new school bus drivers in Iowa and ensures state requirements comply with federal regulations.
This bill modifies Iowa state employee leave policies. It creates a new program allowing eligible employees to convert unused sick leave into vacation time: after four years of service, employees with 30 days of unused sick leave can add up to half a day of vacation per month (reduced to 10 days for first four years). It also establishes new paid parental leave, providing up to four weeks for birth parents or adoptive parents, and one week for non-birth parents, all within 12 months of birth/adoption. These changes apply to most state employees, excluding university faculty and public safety bargaining unit employees (who have separate rules). The department of administrative services must create implementing rules.
SF 532 affects state-funded nursing homes and long-term care facilities in Iowa. It bans facilities from requiring residents to sign arbitration agreements that limit their right to seek full court review of disputes, and adds retaliation against residents or staff who file complaints as a serious violation. The bill also mandates more frequent unannounced inspections (at least one per facility every 12 months), increases penalties for repeated safety violations (tripling fines for second offenses), and includes new funding for oversight. These changes aim to strengthen resident protections and enforcement of facility safety standards.
This bill requires Iowa's Department of Corrections to provide mental health support for state corrections officers. It mandates hiring mental health liaisons for each correctional facility (or covering multiple facilities), implementing an annual 5-10 question mental health screening survey to identify severe conditions like schizophrenia or depression, and establishing outreach teams to refer officers needing care to local providers. The bill also requires the department to provide one annual, confidential, employer-funded counseling session per officer and appropriates $400,000 for fiscal year 2025-2026 to cover liaison salaries, screening technology, and outreach team costs. These changes aim to improve officer mental health, reduce turnover, and support workplace well-being.
SF 190 protects individuals who report sexual assault, harassment, or discrimination by making such communications legally privileged, meaning they cannot be sued for defamation without proof of malice. It creates a special legal process allowing defendants in defamation cases to quickly request dismissal of the lawsuit through an expedited motion, with courts required to rule within 60 days. The bill covers reports made in workplaces, schools, and online contexts (including cyber sexual bullying), protecting those who report incidents with a reasonable basis. It also entitles successful defendants to recover attorney fees, damages for harm caused by the lawsuit, and other remedies.
This bill (SSB 1010) modifies civil service procedures for city employees in Iowa, primarily affecting police and fire department staff in cities with populations over 8,000. It prohibits cities from creating citizen review boards to oversee police conduct (Section 1) and strengthens disciplinary standards by requiring cities to prove misconduct by a "preponderance of evidence" and justify punishment as "proportionate, reasonable, and just" (Sections 3, 4, 9). The bill also mandates disclosure of exculpatory evidence during disciplinary hearings (Section 5) and ensures public hearings for appeals (Section 8), while clarifying that civil service commissions must consider factors like employee history and policy compliance when reviewing cases. These changes apply to all cities with established civil service commissions under Iowa law.
This bill allows surviving spouses and children of Iowa state employees to maintain their health insurance coverage if the employee died from a work-related traumatic injury (such as a workplace accident), excluding deaths from stress, chronic illness, misconduct, or gross negligence. It requires the state to permit continued coverage or reenrollment for eligible families, though the state isn’t obligated to pay for it - families may cover costs if the state doesn’t. Coverage continues until eligibility is confirmed or if the family becomes ineligible for other reasons (e.g., remarriage). The bill specifically applies to employees covered under Iowa’s state health insurance plans at the time of death.
This Iowa bill (1057XD) upgrades penalties for assaults against specific public safety and service workers, including peace officers, correctional staff, healthcare providers, firefighters, and others. It increases penalties to a class "C" felony for assaults with intent to cause serious injury or involving dangerous weapons, and to a class "D" felony for causing bodily injury or mental illness. For inmates, it makes assaults involving bodily fluids (like spitting) against correctional staff a class "D" felony, requiring a minimum seven-day prison sentence. The bill directly affects anyone who assaults these designated workers while knowing their occupation, with stricter penalties than current law.
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.
