HF282 • 2026

A bill for an act relating to eligibility for unemployment benefits for participants in strikes or other labor disputes.

Labor

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: CROKEN, BAGNIEWSKI, GOSA, AMOS JR., McBURNEY, MADISON, KURTH, WICHTENDAHL, R. JOHNSON and MATSON
Last action: 2025-02-10
Official status: Introduced, referred to Labor and Workforce. H.J. 274 .
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on how long workers can receive benefits or if there are limits on the number of times they can get these benefits due to strikes or labor disputes.

Unemployment Benefits for Workers in Strikes or Labor Disputes

This bill changes Iowa law to allow workers who are on strike or involved in labor disputes that stop work at their workplace to receive unemployment benefits if they meet other eligibility requirements.

What This Bill Does

Changes the rules so people can get unemployment benefits even if they are striking or in a labor dispute that stops work where they used to work.

Who It Names or Affects

Workers who are on strike or involved in labor disputes that stop work at their workplace.
Unemployment agencies and employers affected by changes in benefit rules.

Terms To Know

Strike: When workers refuse to go to work as a way of protesting against unfair conditions or demands from the employer.
Labor dispute: A disagreement between employers and employees over working conditions, pay, or other issues that can lead to a strike or stoppage of work.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how long workers can receive unemployment benefits during strikes or labor disputes.
It is unclear if there are any limits on the number of times workers can get these benefits due to strikes or labor disputes.

Bill History

2025-02-10 Iowa Legislature
Introduced, referred to Labor and Workforce. H.J. 274 .

Official Summary Text

A bill for an act relating to eligibility for unemployment benefits for participants in strikes or other labor disputes.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

House

File

282

-

Introduced

HOUSE

FILE

282

BY

CROKEN

,

BAGNIEWSKI

,

GOSA

,

AMOS

JR.

,

McBURNEY

,

MADISON

,

KURTH

,

WICHTENDAHL

,

R.

JOHNSON

,

and

MATSON

A

BILL

FOR

An

Act

relating

to

eligibility

for

unemployment

benefits

for

1

participants

in

strikes

or

other

labor

disputes.

2

BE

IT

ENACTED

BY

THE

GENERAL

ASSEMBLY

OF

THE

STATE

OF

IOWA:

3

TLSB

1251YH

(3)

91

je/js

H.F.

282

Section

1.

Section

96.4,

subsection

3,

paragraph

a,

Code

1

2025,

is

amended

to

read

as

follows:

2

a.

The

individual

is

able

to

work,

is

available

for

work,

3

and

is

earnestly

and

actively

seeking

work.

This

subsection

4

is

waived

if

the

individual

is

deemed

partially

unemployed,

5

while

employed

at

the

individual’s

regular

job,

as

defined

6

in

section

96.1A,

subsection

37

,

paragraph

“b”

,

subparagraph

7

(1),

or

temporarily

unemployed

as

defined

in

section

96.1A,

8

subsection

37

,

paragraph

“c”

.

This

subsection

is

waived

if

9

the

individual

is

not

disqualified

for

benefits

under

section

10

96.5,

subsection

3,

paragraph

“b”

,

subparagraph

(4).

The

work

11

search

requirements

of

this

subsection

and

the

disqualification

12

requirement

for

failure

to

apply

for,

or

to

accept

suitable

13

work

of

section

96.5,

subsection

3

,

are

waived

if

the

14

individual

is

not

disqualified

for

benefits

under

section

96.5,

15

subsection

1

,

paragraph

“h”

.

16

Sec.

2.

Section

96.5,

subsection

3,

paragraph

b,

Code

2025,

17

is

amended

by

adding

the

following

new

subparagraph:

18

NEW

SUBPARAGRAPH

.

(4)

The

individual

is

participating

in

a

19

strike

or

other

labor

dispute

resulting

in

a

stoppage

of

work

20

at

the

factory,

establishment,

or

other

premises

at

which

the

21

individual

is

or

was

last

employed.

22

Sec.

3.

Section

96.5,

subsection

4,

Code

2025,

is

amended

by

23

striking

the

subsection.

24

EXPLANATION

25

The

inclusion

of

this

explanation

does

not

constitute

agreement

with

26

the

explanation’s

substance

by

the

members

of

the

general

assembly.

27

This

bill

provides

that

an

individual

participating

in

28

a

strike

or

other

labor

dispute

resulting

in

a

stoppage

of

29

work

at

the

factory,

establishment,

or

other

premises

at

30

which

the

individual

is

or

was

last

employed

shall

not

be

31

denied

unemployment

benefits

if

otherwise

eligible.

The

bill

32

provides

that

such

an

individual

is

not

subject

to

work

search

33

requirements

for

unemployment

benefits.

Under

current

law,

34

such

an

individual

is

disqualified

for

unemployment

benefits

35

-1-

LSB

1251YH

(3)

91

je/js

1/

2

H.F.

282

with

specified

exceptions.

1

-2-

LSB

1251YH

(3)

91

je/js

2/

2