Prohibiting employer control of employee political candidacy and contributions, and making penalties applicable

Where it is now

Done: IntroducedJanuary 14, 2025
Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 30, 2025
Stopped: House committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
Next: Passes the House
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 requires any appointing authority or employer to, upon request, grant an employee who is a candidate for an elective public office leave commencing any time within days before an election. Current law requires a public employer to grant a public employee such leave requests. The bill also prohibits an appointing authority or employer from taking adverse actions against an employee for seeking election to a public office or from prohibiting an employee from seeking election to a public office, in the event the employee informs the appointing authority or employer that the employee intends to seek election to a public office.

Read the full explanation

By operation of law, a person who violates these provisions of the bill is guilty of a simple misdemeanor for each day of the offense. A simple misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than days or a fine of at least $105 but not more than $855 or by both. The bill also prohibits an employer who employs people in Iowa from prohibiting, limiting, or requiring approval for the contributions of employees to political committees or candidates’ committees. By operation of law, a person who violates this provision of the bill is guilty of a serious misdemeanor. A serious misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than one year and a fine of at least $430 but not more than $2,560.

From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Amendments adopted later aren’t reflected. Full bill text

House subcommittee

Named January 30, 2025. On March 4, 2025 it recommended passage.

Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part

Iowa Code it changes

Creates§68A.507

Amends§55.4

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 · 15 undecided · Who →