Bills › 91st General Assembly
Prohibiting the misclassification of employees as independent contractors, providing penalties, and including applicability provisions
Sponsored by Rep. Jerome Amos Jr. (D), Rep. Timi M. Brown-Powers (D), Rep. Ken Croken (D), Rep. Tracy A. Ehlert (D), Rep. Ruth Ann Gaines (D), Rep. Eric J. Gjerde (D), Rep. Daniel Gosa (D), Rep. David Jacoby (D), Rep. Lindsay James (D), Rep. Rob Johnson (D), Rep. Bob Kressig (D), Rep. Monica Kurth (D), Rep. Mary Lee Madison (D), Rep. Heather Matson (D), Rep. Brian Meyer (D), Rep. Angel Ramirez (D), Rep. Aime Wichtendahl (D), Rep. Ross Wilburn (D), Rep. Elizabeth Wilson (D)
Topics:Jobs & workers
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 10, 2026
- Skipped: SubcommitteeSkipped
- Done: House committeeMarch 31, 2026
- Stopped: Passes the HouseDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Senate committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The General Assembly adjourned on October 2, 2026. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
This bill prohibits an employer from willfully misclassifying an individual who performs services for the employer in return for remuneration as an independent contractor rather than an employee with the effect of denying the individual eligibility for an employment benefit provided by law or for a government program. Whether an individual performs services as an employee or independent contractor is determined under regulations or guidelines of the federal internal revenue service in effect as of the date of an alleged misclassification.
Read the full explanation
The bill is enforced by the department of workforce development. An employer who violates this prohibition shall be subject to a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per misclassified individual for a first offense, up to $7,500 per misclassified individual for a second offense, and up to $10,000 per misclassified individual for each subsequent offense. The department shall provide written notice to an employer prior to imposition of a civil penalty. An employer may contest and seek judicial review of a determination of the department pursuant to Code chapter 17A. An employer shall bear the burden of proving that the employer did not misclassify an individual. Upon a final determination of the department that a violation occurred and the conclusion of the period for any appeals, the department shall bring an action in district court to collect the civil penalties for deposit in the general fund and refer the violation to a county attorney. A county attorney shall not be bound by any determination of the department. An employer who misclassifies an individual in violation of the bill commits a class “D” felony. A class “D” felony is punishable by confinement for no more than five years and a fine of at least $1,025 but not more than $10,245. The bill applies to misclassification of an individual by an employer occurring 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
Iowa Code it changes
Creates§95.1§95.2§95.3§95.4§95.5
Amends§84A.5
Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works
Lobbying
2 for · 0 against · 0 undecided · Who →
Family tree
Where this legislation came from and where it went: earlier tries, the versions it moved through this Assembly, and later bills built on it.
Tried before
91st General Assembly
Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title; check the text to be sure it’s the same idea.
Tried before
This idea has been filed in an earlier General Assembly. None got through a chamber.
- HF 2371 Prohibiting the misclassification of employees as independent contractors, providing penal…90th General Assembly · In committee · nearly identicalCleared committee
Similar bills this General Assembly
- HF 348 Prohibiting the misclassification of employees as independent contractors, providing penal…91st General Assembly · In committeeNearly identical
Matched by the wording of each bill’s explanation, or an identical title. Companion bills and renumbered versions of this bill aren’t listed; they’re the same bill.