Labor & Employment

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SSB 3147: A bill for an act requiring the supreme court to establish a judicial officer and state court administrator compensation and benefits plan and including effective date provisions.

This bill requires Iowa's Supreme Court to create and maintain a compensation and benefits plan specifically for judicial officers (judges), the state court administrator, and court employees. It mandates that the plan sets salaries and benefits within funds approved by the legislature, replacing previous separate salary-setting processes for judges. The plan must include anti-discrimination protections, sexual harassment policies, and grievance procedures for all covered employees. The bill takes effect June 19, 2026, and applies to all judicial branch staff covered under the new framework.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEstablishes compensation plan with anti-discrimination protections for court employees, advancing workplace rights for judicial branch staff.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Employment Discrimination

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signed · Iowa · House May 1, 2026

HF 2502: A bill for an act relating to paid parental leave for state employees, and including effective date provisions.

HF 2502 provides paid parental leave for Iowa state employees following the birth or adoption of a child, directly affecting all eligible state workers. The bill removes a previous requirement that employees must first qualify for leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to receive paid state leave. It establishes that state employees are entitled to paid leave for up to 12 months after a birth or adoption, covering both birth and adoption placements. This change expands access to paid leave for state employees who may not have met the prior federal FMLA eligibility criteria.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands paid parental leave access for state employees by removing FMLA prerequisite, directly enhancing worker benefits and parental rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave Public Employees

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SF 2247: A bill for an act relating to persons prohibited from participating in economic development programs.

SF 2247 prohibits businesses or organizations from applying for Iowa's economic development programs if any of their employees are receiving government assistance (like food stamps or cash aid) on the day they submit their application. The bill requires program authorities to automatically reject such applications, directly affecting applicants who have employees currently enrolled in public assistance programs. Key provisions include defining "public assistance" under existing state law and mandating rejection based solely on an employee's assistance status at the time of application. This rule creates a strict eligibility barrier for economic development program participation based on the employment status of applicants' workforce.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill denies economic development funding to businesses with employees on public assistance, penalizing employment of low-income workers and restricting job access for this demographic.92% confidence

Tags Economic Development

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signed · Iowa · Senate Jun 2, 2026

SF 2168: A bill for an act relating to workforce matters including apprenticeships and other career training, unemployment insurance, and membership of the state workforce development board, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.

This bill establishes a mandatory reemployment case management program for Iowa's Department of Workforce Development, requiring the department to provide individualized job search and placement services to unemployment claimants within two weeks of filing a claim. It modifies work search requirements for certain claimants (including partially unemployed workers) and updates communication procedures for claim decisions, appeals, and employer notifications. The bill directly affects unemployment claimants seeking benefits and employers paying into the unemployment insurance system. Key changes include requiring electronic notifications for employers about benefit payments, adding phone hearing options for appeals, and clarifying burden-of-proof rules for eligibility disputes.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandatory reemployment case management requires timely job services, modifies work search rules to include partially unemployed workers, and updates communication procedures for unemployment claimants.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Employees Unemployment Workforce Development

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 & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands apprenticeship frameworks with training requirements and supervision ratios, strengthening workforce development under labor/employment topic.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Apprenticeships Professional Licensing Workforce Development

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 23, 2026

SF 2437: A bill for an act relating to health insurance coverage for surviving spouses and children of deceased fire fighters and peace officers, and health insurance coverage for disabled or injured fire fighters and peace officers.

This bill requires Iowa employers (county boards, city councils, or governing bodies) to provide continued health insurance coverage for two groups: (1) surviving spouses and children of fire fighters or peace officers who died in the line of duty, and (2) disabled or injured fire fighters or peace officers receiving work-related disability benefits. Under the bill, employers must pay the full premium for the surviving family members' coverage (replacing current law where families could be required to pay part of the cost), and must cover disabled first responders until age 55. It applies to all employers offering health coverage to active employees, eliminating the option for partial employer payment. The bill directly affects surviving families of line-of-duty-deceased first responders and injured first responders receiving disability benefits.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires employers to provide full health insurance coverage for surviving families of fallen first responders and disabled officers, expanding access to healthcare benefits for vulnerable groups.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires employers to pay full health insurance premiums for injured/disabled firefighters and their families, expanding worker benefits and protections for high-risk laborers.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 24, 2026

HSB 668: A bill for an act relating to state policies, programs, and licenses with race, gender, or citizenship requirements.

This bill amends Iowa's state employment laws to strengthen equal opportunity and affirmative action requirements. It requires state agencies, universities (via the Board of Regents), and school districts to develop and implement affirmative action plans addressing underrepresentation in hiring, establish training programs for staff, and submit annual reports on progress. The bill also authorizes the Department of Administrative Services to impose sanctions on entities failing to comply with these equal opportunity standards. These changes directly affect all state government employers and their hiring practices across Iowa.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires schools/universities to implement affirmative action plans addressing underrepresentation, promoting equitable hiring and access in education.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates affirmative action plans for underrepresentation in state hiring, requiring training and reporting to strengthen equal employment opportunity per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Employees

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passed · Iowa · House Feb 18, 2026

HR 106: A resolution urging the members of Congress to support the Major Richard Star Act to allow medically retired service members to receive full access to their much-deserved retirement pay and benefits.

This resolution (HR 106) urges Congress to support the Major Richard Star Act, which would change current rules affecting medically retired veterans. It directly impacts approximately 50,000 service members who retired before completing 20 years of service due to medical conditions and have a disability rating below 50% - they currently lose $1 of retirement pay for every $1 of disability pay received. The resolution does not change the law itself but calls for Congress to pass the Major Richard Star Act, which would eliminate this offset and allow these veterans to receive full retirement pay and VA disability benefits. It is a symbolic action, not a policy change, referencing the case of Major Richard Star, an Iraq/Afghanistan veteran who died of burn pit-related lung cancer.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands retirement benefits for medically retired veterans by eliminating the pay reduction penalty, directly protecting earned benefits for a worker group under employment standards.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransUrges Congress to support Major Richard Star Act, restoring full retirement pay for medically retired veterans currently losing benefits due to disability rating rules.95% confidence

Sub-Topics National Guard & Reserve Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 16, 2026

HF 2458: A bill for an act establishing the teacher and para-educator grant program within the department of workforce development, and making appropriations.

HF 2458 establishes a state grant program within Iowa's Department of Workforce Development to help two groups: high school students pursuing a para-educator certificate and associate degree, and current para-educators seeking a bachelor's degree. The program provides financial assistance for education costs and is funded by a $3.5 million appropriation for fiscal year 2026-2027. It also allows prior work experience through this grant program to count toward the 14-week student teaching requirement for education students. The bill requires the Department of Workforce Development to administer the program in consultation with the Department of Education.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $3.5M in new appropriations for educator grants, directly funding workforce development through state budget spending.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes $3.5M grant program for para-educator/teacher education, funding associate/bachelor's degrees, directly advancing educator workforce development and access.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides state grants for para-educator/teacher education, funding workforce development and career advancement in education sector.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations K-12 Education Teachers Workforce Development

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in committee · Iowa · House Mar 31, 2026

HF 2378: 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 Iowa bill (HF 2378) sets a phased increase to the state minimum wage: $10.00 per hour starting July 1, 2026; $12.50 on July 1, 2027; and $15.00 on July 1, 2028. It also establishes a lower minimum wage of $9.10, $11.60, and $14.10 for employees in their first 90 days of work, effective on the same dates. Beginning July 1, 2029, the wage will automatically rise each year by the same percentage as the federal Social Security cost-of-living adjustment, with no decreases allowed. The bill removes a tip credit for certain workers and allows counties or cities to set higher local minimum wages than the state rate.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly increases minimum wage annually with automatic COLA adjustments, directly strengthening worker compensation and addressing wage stagnation per Labor & Employment topic indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

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