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Previous Updates
Worker Status
Distracted Driver Amendments
- Broaden the individuals who are exempted from the law, including those reporting an emergency; and
- Allow use of an electronic device in a vehicle that is at a complete stop even if it cannot be entirely removed from the traveled portion of the roadway.
https://governor.iowa.gov/press-release/2025-04-02/gov-reynolds-signs-hands-free-bill-law
Adoptive Parents
IA HF248 | 2025-2026 | 91st General Assembly | LegiScan
Minimum Wage Amendments
- Repeal the following recordkeeping requirements:
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- For employees for whom the tip credit is claimed, a symbol, letter, or other notation identifying each employee whose wage is determined in part by tips;
- For employers that deduct board, lodging, or facilities from an employee's wages, records substantiating the costs of furnishing the facilities;
- Records of additions or deductions from wages when those additions or deductions bring cash wages for the workweek below minimum wage;
- For agricultural employers of minors, a record of the minor's name, place of residence, and date of birth when the minor works on a school day or, if the occupation is deemed hazardous, on any day; and
- Records for persons employed at subminimum wages;
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- Simplify rules for the tip credit and the credit for board, lodging, and other facilities;
- Rescind minimum wage exemptions for executive, administrative, and professional employees, which are no longer relevant because Iowa has adopted federal exemptions; and
- Clarify terms.
Child Labor Law Amended
Effective July 1, 2023, Iowa's child labor law is amended to, among other things:
- Repeal the work requirements;
- Extend from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., the time of day during which minors under the age of 16 must stop working from Labor Day through June 1, and extend from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. the time of day during which minors under the age of 16 must stop working from June 1 through Labor Day;
- Extend the limitation on the number of hours per day during which minors under the age of 16 may work from four hours to six hours;
- Permit minors under the age of 18 to work as motor vehicle drivers and helpers, and to perform certain work activities in plants or establishments manufacturing or storing explosives;
- Permit 14- and 15-year-olds to perform additional work activities, including kitchen-cleaning, momentary work in freezers, laundering, loading and unloading light, non-power-driven hand tools onto motor vehicles, and seed-production work; and
- Permit 15-year-olds to perform additional work activities, including loading and unloading non-power-driven equipment weighing up to 30 pounds into motor vehicles; loading and unloading groceries and other retail items weighing up to 30 pounds into motor vehicles; and stocking shelves with items weighing up to 30 pounds.
For more information, visit https://www.iowadivisionoflabor.gov/child-labor
Restrictions on Vaccine Requirements
The Governor has signed HF 902 into law. An employer that requires an employee to receive a COVID-19 vaccine shall waive the requirement if the employee, or, if the employee is a minor, the employee’s parent or legal guardian, requests a waiver and submits either of the following to the employer:
- A statement that receiving the vaccine would be injurious to the health and well-being of the employee or an individual residing with the employee.
- A statement that receiving the vaccine would conflict with the tenets and practices of a religion of which the employee is an adherent or member.
Employees who lose their jobs for refusing to get a COVID-19 vaccination are eligible for unemployment benefits.
Iowa Expands Employment Protections
Under Iowa law, members of the National Guard, armed forces reserves and civil air patrol are entitled to unpaid leaves of absence during any period of time in which they are ordered to temporary duty or service. Leave rights extend to members in another state who work in Iowa.
Upon completion of the employee's temporary duty or service, the employer must restore the person to the same position or a position of like seniority, status and pay. The employee must still be qualified to perform the duties of the position and must provide the employer with evidence of satisfactory completion of the duty or service.
The leave of absence may not affect an employee's rights to vacation, sick leave, bonuses or other employment benefits.
Effective, July 1, 2021 military leave of absence and discrimination protections are expanded to members of the United States Coast Guard.
Required Unemployment Notice
Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) released an emergency rule that requires employers to inform their employees of unemployment benefits.
Employers should provide the state unemployment insurance disclosure form to any employee who resigns, retires, is discharged, is laid off or has been subject to a reduction in force. When making scheduling decisions that may result in an employee receiving substantially reduced hours, employers should also consider providing the unemployment insurance disclosure form. More information can be obtained at the IWD website.
