On March 17, 2022, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed into law House File 2521, “Relating to Health Care Employment Agencies, and Providing Penalties,” which will have its home in Chapter 135Q of the Iowa Code. In general, the...more
In the past several months there has been a flurry of Executive Orders and other legally binding rules regarding vaccine mandates. Standing first and above the rest are the Executive Order by the Biden Administration...more
Key Points- •HF 902 was signed into law on October 28, 2021 and requires employers to issue vaccine waivers to employees who: 1) refuse to receive a COVID-19 vaccine requirement and 2) submit a statement that the vaccine...more
On October 29, 2021, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed into law legislation affecting the interplay between Iowa employers, employees, and COVID-19 vaccine requirements. Iowa’s new law, HF 902, sets up questions regarding...more
On October 29, 2021, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed House File 902 into law, a measure that requires Iowa employers with mandatory COVID-19 vaccine policies to waive their requirements for employees who seek vaccination...more
On Thursday, October 28, the second Iowa special legislative session concluded with the legislature approving the second Legislative and Congressional District Plan (SF621) and Covid Vaccine Exemptions (HF902). Governor...more
One of the last pieces of legislation the Iowa legislature sent to Governor Kim Reynolds’ desk for guaranteed signature was a bill banning vaccine passports in Iowa. House File 889 contains several prohibitions regarding...more
One of the last pieces of legislation the Iowa legislature sent to Governor Kim Reynolds’ desk for assured signature was a bill banning vaccine passports in Iowa. House File 889 contains several prohibitions regarding...more
Governor Reynolds announced effective June 12 the state of Iowa will stop participation in several federal pandemic-related unemployment benefit programs. Iowa will continue to pay regular unemployment, without the additional...more
As this was the first funnel week of the 2021 legislative session, both chambers focused their efforts on committee work. Despite already passing a massive number of bills through committee in the first seven weeks of the...more
The highlight of this week in Iowa and around the country remains Mother Nature and the unprecedented weather cycle causing major disruptions in the power grid. Here in Iowa, temperatures spent much of the week below zero,...more
Week 5 at the Iowa legislature brought a lot of action both in committee and in each chamber. Dozens of bills passed out of House and Senate committees each day this week, which is a much faster pace than any recent session. ...more
Week four brought extensive committee work in both chambers Monday-Wednesday, with a slower day on Thursday due to the snow in Des Moines and across the state, though virtual meetings allowed the Senate to continue to conduct...more
Update: On Monday, January 25, the Governor introduced another bill, SSB1065, which establishes a student first scholarship program for certain pupils attending nonpublic schools. The legislature did not meet on Monday in...more
The Legislature convened on Monday, January 15, with new COVID-19 protocols controlling access in the Capitol. The opening of the General Assembly began with remarks by leaders in both chambers and joint conventions for the...more
With newly available federal money, the State of Iowa rolled out another program to provide rental assistance to Iowans and otherwise prevent homelessness by preventing imminent eviction. This newest program is targeted to...more
On Friday, December 4, Governor Reynolds announced financial assistance for low-income Iowans who are at imminent risk of eviction and individuals who have lost housing. The Governor’s press release is below...more
On November 16, 2020, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds issued a public health proclamation imposing public health measures on a variety of employers to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. The Iowa Department of Public Health also...more
Responding to record-breaking numbers of COVID-19 patients and reports that Iowa’s healthcare system is in a dire position, the Governor instituted public health measures on November 16, 2020, via proclamation. Iowa...more
Governor Reynolds newest proclamation placed additional restrictions on non-essential inpatient surgeries and procedures effective November 17, 2020. The new restrictions require hospitals to limit the number of...more
This summer - on June 18, 2020 - the Iowa legislature passed and Governor Kim Reynolds approved SF 2338 to address a long-standing evidentiary issue concerning medical expenses stemming from Pexa v. Auto Owners Ins. Co., 686...more
The Iowa Legislature and Governor Kim Reynolds wasted no time enacting new legislation that offers broad protections to businesses, landlords, employers, and medical providers, among others, in the face of expected litigation...more
Legislators returned to the Capitol Wednesday, June 3, to resume the 2020 session after being paused due to COVID-19 for 11 weeks. The session is expected to adjourn sine die for 2020 on Friday, June 12....more
On May 28, the State of Iowa announced an Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention (EFP) Program to provide short-term relief to income-eligible renters. The program is administered through the Iowa Finance Authority and was made...more
This week saw more Governors easing restrictions on economic activity in their states as confidence grows that adequate resources have been marshaled by the government and health care systems to be able to respond to a surge...more