Labor & Employment (Paid Leave) in Iowa

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 & Employment

Sub-Topics Paid Leave Public Employees

in committee · Iowa · House Mar 31, 2026

HF 2631: A bill for an act relating to a family leave and medical leave insurance program that provides for paid, job-protected leave for certain family leave and medical leave reasons for eligible employees of specified employers.

HF 2631 establishes Iowa's Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program, creating a paid, job-protected leave system for eligible employees. It directly affects workers at covered employers (private businesses with 10+ employees year-round or public employers) who need leave for bonding with a newborn/adopted child, caring for a family member with a serious health condition, taking medical leave for their own serious health issue, or addressing qualifying circumstances as a crime victim (e.g., seeking medical care, legal assistance, or safety measures). The program is funded through employee premiums, with benefits calculated based on spendable weekly earnings, and is administered by the Department of Workforce Development. This legislation expands on existing federal protections by adding specific coverage for crime victim-related leave and standardizing definitions for eligibility and benefits.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Paid Leave Workforce Development

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 3, 2026

HF 2266: A bill for an act providing for family medical leave for grandparents and providing penalties and remedies.

HF 2266 would require Iowa employers to provide family medical leave to grandparents for specific family care needs related to their grandchildren, including the birth of a grandchild, caring for a grandchild with a serious health condition, and addressing military-related exigencies involving a grandchild. The bill modifies the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to extend these leave rights to grandparents, defining "employee" and "employer" as in federal law. Enforcement would be handled by the state department of inspections, appeals, and licensing using existing state procedures under Chapter 91A. This legislation directly affects Iowa grandparents who are employees and their employers by adding these specific leave protections to state law.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SF 2248: A bill for an act providing for paid family and medical leave to certain employees who have a child receiving inpatient care in a neonatal intensive care unit.

This bill requires Iowa employers with 10 or more full-time employees to provide up to 12 weeks of paid leave to workers whose child is hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The leave must be paid at the employee's regular hourly rate or salary, including all benefits like health insurance. Employers who fail to comply face penalties, including back pay and legal costs, with enforcement handled by the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing. It directly affects Iowa workers with newborns in NICU care and their employers.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Hospitals Insurance Paid Leave

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 10, 2026

HF 2381: A bill for an act requiring school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to grant coaches leaves of absence to attend professional development activities.

HF 2381 requires all Iowa public school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to grant coaches with authorization a paid leave of absence for professional development. The bill mandates that schools provide at least two days of leave per school year for coaches to attend training programs or conferences, without any loss of seniority, pay, benefits (including health insurance), vacation time, or other employment protections. This directly affects school employees holding coaching authorizations who need to participate in required professional training. The law ensures coaches can attend development opportunities without financial or career penalties, aligning with existing leave requirements for school districts.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SF 2239: A bill for an act relating to a family leave and medical leave insurance program that provides for paid, job-protected leave for certain family leave and medical leave reasons for eligible employees of specified employers.

SF 2239 establishes Iowa's first state-run paid family and medical leave insurance program. It requires private employers with 10+ employees and all public employers to provide eligible workers with up to 12 weeks of paid leave for family reasons (like bonding with a newborn or caring for a sick family member) and up to 12 weeks for medical reasons (an employee's own serious health condition). To qualify, employees must have worked 1,250 hours over the past 12 months for their employer. The program, administered by the Iowa Department of Workforce Development, allows a combined maximum of 16 weeks of paid leave for both family and medical needs within any 12-month period.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Paid Leave Workforce Development

in committee · Iowa · House Jan 21, 2026

HF 2146: A bill for an act relating to leaves of absence from civil public employment for members of the military.

HF 2146 clarifies that Iowa public employees (state, county, or municipal workers) taking leave for military service (including National Guard, federal duty, or Civil Air Patrol) count each workday as one day toward their 30-day paid leave limit, regardless of the number of hours worked that day. This applies whether the military duty occurs within a single workday or spans multiple calendar days. The bill standardizes how leave days are counted under existing law, ensuring employees aren't penalized for partial workday overlaps. It specifically addresses the calculation method for the 30-day paid leave entitlement already provided by statute.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Paid Leave Public Employees

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 16, 2026

HSB 579: A bill for an act relating to paid parental leave for state employees.

HSB 579 would amend Iowa law to provide paid parental leave for state employees following the birth or adoption of a child, removing a current requirement that employees must first qualify for leave under federal law. The bill directly affects all Iowa state employees who take leave for childbirth or adoption, expanding eligibility beyond those currently covered under federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) protections. Key provision: State employees would receive paid leave for up to the period specified in the amended section, applicable within twelve months of the child's birth or adoption placement, without needing prior federal FMLA eligibility. This change simplifies access to paid parental leave for state workers who may not meet federal criteria but still need time off for family events. The bill is currently under review by a state government subcommittee.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Paid Leave Public Employees

in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 20, 2026

SSB 3032: A bill for an act relating to paid parental leave for state employees.

SSB 3032 would require Iowa state employers to provide paid leave for employees taking time off for the birth or adoption of a child, without needing prior eligibility under federal family leave law. It directly affects Iowa state employees who are new parents or adoptive parents, allowing them to receive paid leave within 12 months of a birth or adoption. The key change removes the current requirement that an employee must first qualify for leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to receive state-paid parental leave. This policy would expand access to paid parental leave for more state workers who may not meet federal FMLA criteria. The bill was introduced in January 2026 and recommended for passage by a legislative subcommittee.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Paid Leave Public Employees

in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SF 2009: A bill for an act relating to certain employees of the department of corrections, including collective bargaining, health insurance for a surviving spouse and children of certain employees of the department, and certain operational and employment matters involving the department, and including applicability provisions.

SF 2009 affects nonsupervisory Iowa Department of Corrections employees with ongoing direct contact with inmates. It designates these workers as "public safety employees" for collective bargaining under state law, requiring the state to cover full health insurance costs for surviving spouses and children. The bill mandates new training in de-escalation techniques, uniform safety practices at correctional facilities, and paid leave (5-90 days) for employees experiencing trauma or hostage situations. It also prohibits the department from offering contractors better pay or benefits than comparable state employees performing similar work.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Insurance Collective Bargaining Paid Leave

All labor & employment bills