Bills › 91st General Assembly
Exempting service performed for certain employers from eligibility for unemployment insurance, and including applicability provisions
Sponsored by the House Labor and Workforce Committee, Rep. Chad Ingels (R)
Topics:Jobs & workers
Same legislation: HF 2319
Progress
- IntroducedFebruary 19, 2026
- Subcommittee—
- Committee—
- Passed House—
- Passed Senate—
- Signed—
Died at end of session The General Assembly adjourned on May 3, 2026. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
This bill provides that service performed for employers is not considered employment for purposes of eligibility for unemployment benefits (benefits) if specified conditions are met. The employer must certify to the department of workforce development (department) that all owners of the employing unit are members of the old order Amish church or another recognized Amish congregation. The employer must further certify to the department that the employing unit and its owners hold sincere religious objections to participation in governmental insurance or social insurance programs, including unemployment insurance.
Read the full explanation
The employer must not permit any employee to claim or receive benefits for any period of employment covered by the bill. The employer must obtain from each employee a written acknowledgment stating the employee understands that service performed for the employer for wages is not considered employment for purposes of unemployment insurance and that the employee will not be eligible to receive benefits based on such employment. Finally, the employer must annually submit an election to the department and the election must remain in effect. The bill shall not be construed to exempt an employer from any requirement of federal unemployment insurance law or any other tax or employment obligation imposed under state or federal law. The bill applies to service performed for an employer on or after the effective date of the bill.
From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Amendments adopted later aren’t reflected. Full bill text
History
Meetings
- Tuesday, February 17 · 8:45 AMLabor and Workforce subcommittee · House LoungeOfficial meeting page
Votes
No recorded votes yet.
Lobbyist declarations
- IBEW Iowa State ConferenceAgainst
- Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIOAgainst
- Heartland Strategies, LLCFor
- Iowa Association of Building OfficialsUndecided
- Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI)Undecided
- Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and LicensingUndecided
Grouped by organization. Lobbying overview →