The proposed bill establishes a family leave and medical leave insurance program in Iowa, which will provide eligible employees with paid, job-protected leave for specific family and medical reasons. To qualify, employees must have worked for a covered employer for at least twelve consecutive months and a minimum of 1,250 hours during that time. The program allows for a maximum of twelve weeks of family leave and twelve weeks of medical leave within a defined twelve-month period, with a combined total of sixteen weeks for both types of leave. The bill also outlines the notification process for employees intending to take leave and the requirements for filing claims for benefits.

Additionally, the bill amends existing laws to place the administration of the program under the Department of Workforce Development and introduces new definitions for key terms such as "family leave," "medical leave," and "covered employer." It establishes a premium rate for funding the program, which will be assessed on employees' wages starting January 1, 2029, with provisions for premium assessments allowing employers to deduct a portion from employee wages. The bill also includes protections for employees returning from leave, mandates the maintenance of health benefits during leave, and allows self-employed individuals to opt into the program. The director of the program is responsible for overseeing its administration and ensuring compliance with the law.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 7E.5, 84A.1