Labor & Employment (Unemployment)

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 18, 2025

HF 455: A bill for an act relating to the maximum amount of unemployment benefits payable during a benefit year.

HF 455 changes Iowa's unemployment benefit rules by increasing the maximum total benefit amount an individual can receive in one benefit year. Currently, benefits are capped at 16 times the weekly benefit amount; this bill raises that cap to 26 times the weekly amount. The bill directly affects Iowa workers who qualify for unemployment benefits, ensuring they can receive up to 26 weeks' worth of benefits based on their prior earnings. The key change simplifies the calculation by removing the previous lower limit tied to wage credits, though benefits remain tied to the individual's base period earnings. This adjustment applies to all eligible claimants, including those laid off due to employer closures.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases maximum unemployment benefit cap from 16 to 26 weeks, expanding worker benefits during unemployment (directly strengthens employment standards as per topic description).95% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 18, 2025

SSB 1110: A bill for an act relating to disqualification for unemployment benefits for other compensation received and including applicability provisions.

This Iowa bill expands unemployment benefit disqualification to include any "remuneration in connection with separation from employment" (like severance pay or separation allowances), beyond current law. If a worker receives such a payment exceeding their weekly benefit amount, future benefits are reduced until the total payment amount is covered. Exceptions apply: military disability compensation and Social Security pensions do not affect eligibility or reduce benefits. The change applies to separation payments received on or after the bill's effective date.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentRestricts unemployment benefits by reducing payments when severance pay exceeds weekly amount, limiting total worker compensation under unemployment rules.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExcludes military disability compensation from unemployment disqualification, protecting veterans' benefits without reducing their unemployment payments.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment Veteran Benefits

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 24, 2025

SF 372: A bill for an act concerning eligibility for unemployment benefits.

SF 372 amends Iowa's unemployment benefits law to expand eligibility for workers on temporary layoffs. It changes the definition of "short-term seasonal or temporary layoff" to include non-weather conditions beyond highway construction work, removing the requirement for a specific return-to-work date verified by employers. The bill also adds a new provision preventing benefit denial if workers refuse job offers due to unforeseen circumstances (like cybersecurity attacks) causing a temporary business shutdown, provided they expect to return to the same employer. This directly affects unemployed Iowans who were laid off due to seasonal work disruptions or sudden business closures but have a clear path back to their previous jobs.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands unemployment eligibility by broadening layoff definitions and preventing benefit denial for unforeseen circumstances, strengthening worker protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 25, 2025

SSB 1111: A bill for an act providing for disqualification for unemployment benefits due to separation from short-term employment with a fixed end date and including applicability provisions.

This Iowa bill would deny unemployment benefits to workers who leave jobs ending within 180 days of starting, if the job had a written contract with a fixed end date and other specific conditions were met. It applies only to short-term contracts where the employer and employee agreed upfront that benefits wouldn't be available upon the contract's conclusion. The disqualification takes effect for employment beginning after the bill's effective date. This change targets fixed-term employment arrangements ending within 180 days without triggering benefit eligibility.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentDenies unemployment benefits for workers leaving fixed-term contracts, restricting access to a core worker benefit under unemployment compensation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 3, 2025

SSB 1189: A bill for an act relating to unemployment insurance taxes on employers.

This bill changes how Iowa employers pay unemployment insurance taxes. It simplifies the contribution rate system by reducing the number of rate tiers from eight to four, based on an employer's historical claims history ("benefit ratio rank"). The bill also modifies how the "current reserve fund ratio" is calculated, removing a $150 million addition to fund reserves and changing the calculation period. Employers who save money due to these changes must use those savings for employee salaries, benefits, or seasonal unemployment alternatives. The bill directly affects all Iowa employers contributing to the state's unemployment fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill simplifies unemployment tax structure (reducing tiers) and modifies fund calculations, promoting fiscal efficiency per Budget & Taxes topic indicators.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates employers use unemployment tax savings for employee salaries, directly advancing wage-related labor interests.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 12, 2025

SF 504: A bill for an act relating to unemployment insurance taxes on employers.

SF 504 amends Iowa's unemployment insurance tax rules for employers. It modifies the definition of "taxable wages" by removing wages paid to employees from other states that have reciprocal agreements with Iowa. The bill also adds a 10% surcharge on employers with three-year average benefit ratios of 1.25 or higher, and requires employers to use any tax savings from the bill for employee wages or seasonal unemployment alternatives. These changes adjust how employer contribution rates are calculated based on benefit ratio rankings and fund reserve levels.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAdds 10% surcharge on high-benefit employers and mandates tax savings for workforce wages, strengthening fiscal management of unemployment fund.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires tax savings from adjusted employer contributions to be used for employee wages or seasonal unemployment alternatives, directly supporting worker compensation and wage increases.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Fees & Licensing Unemployment

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 19, 2025

SF 358: A bill for an act relating to the maximum amount of unemployment benefits payable during a benefit year to an individual laid off due to an employer going out of business.

This bill increases the maximum unemployment benefits for workers laid off when their employer closes permanently. It raises the cap from 26 to 39 times the individual's weekly benefit amount during a benefit year. This change directly affects workers who lose jobs due to an employer going out of business at their workplace. The policy adjusts the benefit calculation to provide greater financial support in these specific circumstances.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases unemployment benefit cap from 26 to 39 weeks for workers laid off due to employer closure, expanding financial support and strengthening worker protections during job loss.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Unemployment

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Jun 16, 2025

SF 466: A bill for an act providing for disqualification for unemployment benefits due to separation from short-term employment with a fixed end date and including applicability provisions.

This bill disqualifies individuals from receiving unemployment benefits if they leave a short-term job ending within 180 days, provided the employer had a written contract specifying the end date, stating no benefits would be available, and confirming the job concluded as planned. It affects workers in such fixed-term roles and employers who use these contracts, clarifying that this employment won’t count as taxable wages for unemployment tax purposes. Employers can claim refunds for taxes paid on these short-term jobs, and the bill explicitly states contracts cannot waive workers’ rights to unemployment benefits under existing law. The rule applies to employment starting on or after the bill’s effective date.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill disqualifies workers from unemployment benefits for leaving fixed-term jobs with end-date contracts, weakening worker safety net access and restricting benefits eligibility.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

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passed · Iowa · Senate Mar 17, 2026

SF 487: A bill for an act relating to employer recordkeeping and auditing requirements for purposes of unemployment insurance and including applicability provisions.

SF 487 requires Iowa employers covered by unemployment insurance to maintain accurate work records (like pay stubs, W-2s, and tax documents) for three years after wages were paid or due. It mandates that the Department of Workforce Development conduct field audits of these records to verify compliance, requiring employers to provide pre-audit notice and allow interviews. Auditors must examine at least one employee's records for one quarter, with the option to expand audits if discrepancies are found. Employers can contest audit decisions, and the law applies to audits starting after the bill's effective date.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires accurate employer records and audits to verify unemployment insurance compliance, protecting workers' access to benefits and ensuring proper wage documentation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment Workforce Development

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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

Sub-Topics Unemployment

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