Relating to workforce matters including apprenticeships and other career training, unemployment insurance, and membership of the state workforce development board, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions

Sponsored by the Senate Workforce Committee

Proposed by the Department of Workforce Development · their explanation · all agency proposals

Topics:State budget State government Jobs & workers

Same legislation: HSB 556, SSB 3044, HF 2327

Write your legislators about itWhat changed before it passed

Official bill page Lobbyist declarations One-pager to print

Where it is now

Done: IntroducedJanuary 20, 2026
Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 20, 2026
Done: Senate committeeJanuary 29, 2026
Done: Passes the SenateMarch 5, 202628–14
Done: House committeeApril 8, 2026
Done: Passes the HouseApril 15, 202695–0
Done: To the GovernorMay 18, 2026
Done: Signed into lawJune 2, 2026

Signed into law What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

AI summary The Department of Workforce Development would start a program to give personalized help to people looking for new jobs. It also changes how the department sends official messages, moving from paper mail to email and online portals. Additionally, this law adds four new members to the state workforce development board and ends a summer youth intern pilot program.¹

Read the official explanation

This bill relates to programs and procedures of the department of workforce development (department). DIVISION I —— REEMPLOYMENT CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. The bill requires the department, as a required part of its administration of unemployment compensation benefits, to operate a reemployment case management program. The program shall provide individualized reemployment services to claimants who are no longer attached to work. The bill specifies the time period for the services. The bill provides that an individual is considered to be earnestly and actively seeking work for purposes of eligibility for benefits if the individual is participating in and compliant with the program. DIVISION II —— UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS —— MEANS OF COMMUNICATION. The bill replaces various references to communication by mail with communication in the department’s online portal or by electronic mail. The references relate to determination of eligibility for unemployment benefits and determination of employer contribution rates for such benefits. The bill authorizes the director of the department to establish by rule an alternate method or methods for employers and individuals to provide required information relating to unemployment benefits to the department and for the department to provide required notifications to an employer or an individual in circumstances when it is established that the employer or individual is unable to provide the information to the department by electronic means or is unable to receive notifications from the department by electronic means. DIVISION III —— SUMMER YOUTH INTERN PILOT PROGRAM —— REPEAL. The bill repeals the summer youth intern pilot program. This division takes effect June 30, 2026. DIVISION IV —— MEMBERSHIP OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD. The bill adds four specified members to the state workforce development board.

Changed since by amendments H-8344, S-5071, S-5070; see Amendments.

Full bill text · What changed before it passed²

House subcommittee

Named April 2, 2026. On April 7, 2026 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

Fiscal note

AI summary This bill changes apprenticeship training eligibility, codifies a reemployment program for unemployment claimants, and transfers funds between unemployment accounts. It is estimated to increase expenses for Iowa Workforce Development by approximately $1.0 million in fiscal year 2027 and by $2.0 million in each subsequent fiscal year. Additionally, the bill increases the annual appropriation for apprenticeship training from $3.0 million to $4.5 million beginning in fiscal year 2027 and increases the maximum transfer of certain withholding payments to $9.3 million. On July 1, 2026, the bill is estimated to transfer $149.9 million to the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund and $16.5 million to the Special Employment Security Contingency Fund.³

From the note: 5 million. 3 million. Division VIII — Reemployment Case Management Program Description Division VIII of the Bill codifies the Reemployment Case Management (RCM) Program and requires an individual to participate in the RCM Program in order to receive unemployment insurance benefits. The RCM Program provides individualized reemployment services to unemployment insurance claimants who are no longer attached to work.