Bills › 91st General Assembly
Requiring employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees based on pregnancy or childbirth and providing civil penalties
Sponsored by Sen. Liz Bennett (D), Sen. Molly Donahue (D), Sen. William A. Dotzler Jr. (D), Sen. Janet Petersen (D), Sen. Art Staed (D), Sen. Thomas Townsend (D), Sen. Zach Wahls (D), Sen. Janice Weiner (D), Sen. Cindy Winckler (D)
Topics:Civil rightsJobs & workers
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 23, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 30, 2025
- Stopped: Senate committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: House committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The 2026 session adjourned on May 3, 2026, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary Employers would have to provide helpful changes at work for employees dealing with pregnancy or childbirth, such as modified schedules or different equipment. These accommodations must be requested with a doctor's advice and cannot cause an extreme hardship for the business. If an employer fails to follow these rules, they could face a fine of up to $750.1
Read the official explanation
This bill requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees based on pregnancy or childbirth. The bill requires an employer to provide reasonable accommodations to an employee based on medical conditions related to the employee’s pregnancy or childbirth if the employee requests reasonable accommodations with the advice of the employee’s health care provider. The bill defines “reasonable accommodations” as actions which would permit an employee with a medical condition relating to the employee’s pregnancy or childbirth to perform in a reasonable manner the activities involved in the employee’s specific occupation and include but are not limited to the provision of an accessible worksite, acquisition or modification of equipment, job restructuring, and a modified work schedule. The bill provides that “reasonable accommodations” does not mean any action that would impose an undue hardship on the business of the employer from whom the action is requested. The bill provides that an employer who violates the bill is subject to a civil penalty of up to $750. The director of the Iowa office of civil rights shall adopt rules to enforce the bill and provide exemptions where reasonable. The director or director’s representative upon presenting appropriate credentials to the person in charge may inspect employment records relating to the total number of employees and pregnant employees or employees recovering from childbirth and the services provided to pregnant employees or employees recovering from childbirth, as well as interview an employer, operator, owner, agent, or employee during working hours or at other reasonable times. The bill provides that compliance with minimum standards required by the bill shall not be subject to or considered in collective bargaining.
Why it matters. Employers would be required to provide reasonable accommodations, such as modified work schedules or equipment changes, to employees for medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth. The Iowa office of civil rights would enforce these rules and may inspect employment records, while employers who violate the law could face a civil penalty of up to $750.2
Senate subcommittee
Named January 30, 2025. It hasn’t reported yet.
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
Lobbying
5 for · 0 against · 14 undecided · Who →
Family tree
91st General Assembly
Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title.
Tried before
This idea has been filed in 3 earlier General Assemblies. None got through a chamber.
- SF 435 Requiring employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees based on pregnancy o…90th General Assembly · In committee · nearly identicalCleared committee
- SF 485 Requiring employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees based on pregnancy o…89th General Assembly · Approved by committee · nearly identicalCleared committee
- HF 124 Requiring employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees based on pregnancy o…89th General Assembly · In committee · similarCleared committee
- HF 175 Requiring employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees based on pregnancy o…89th General Assembly · In committee · similarCleared committee
- HF 109 Requiring employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees based on pregnancy o…88th General Assembly · In committee · similarCleared committee
- HSB 608 HSB 60888th General Assembly · Subcommittee recommends passage · similarCleared committee
Similar bills this General Assembly
- HF 676 Requiring employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees based on pregnancy o…91st General Assembly · In committeeSimilar
Matched by wording or an identical title.