IowaIowa law would require equal access to public jobs
Public employers would have to provide equal access to jobs, while Iowa police officers would have to take yearly training in calming tense encounters.
What it does
State employers and public education employers would have to give people equal access to jobs. The protection covers listed traits such as race, sex, and disability.
Law enforcement agencies would have to train every officer each year in de-escalation: verbal and physical methods intended to reduce the need to use force.
Students seeking the college grants covered here would have to accept all available federal and state grants and scholarships first. Their financial need would be reviewed at least yearly.
Argument forYearly training in calming tense encounters could help officers reduce the need to use force when dealing with the public.
Argument againstStudents who decline an available federal or state scholarship could lose access to this college grant program, limiting their aid choices.
More detail
Public employers would have to give people equal access to jobs. This covers state employment and jobs at school districts, area education agencies, and community colleges. People could not be denied access because of listed personal traits, including race, sex, and disability.
Law enforcement agencies would have to provide training in ways to calm tense encounters. Every law enforcement officer in Iowa would have to participate. Officers would have to follow the academy’s training guidelines, including verbal and physical tactics to limit force and nonlethal ways to apply it. The training would be required annually.
Students would have to accept all available federal and state grants and scholarships before qualifying for the college grant program described in the law. This requirement concerns applicants to that program; it does not establish who otherwise qualifies. Financial need would be reconsidered at least once a year.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 2Signed by Governor Kim Reynolds.Became Law
- May 6Reported correctly enrolled, signed by Speaker and President, and sent to Governor.To Governor
- Apr 29Message from Senate.
- Vote recorded Shall the bill pass? Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 29Immediate message.
- Apr 29Passed Senate, yeas 31, nays 15.Passed 2nd Chamber
- Apr 29Amendment S-5127 withdrawn.
- Mar 26Placed on calendar under unfinished business.
- Mar 24Placed on calendar.
- Mar 24Amendment S-5127 filed.Minor
- Mar 24Committee report, recommending amendment and passage.Minor
- Mar 12Subcommittee recommends passage.Minor
- Mar 10Subcommittee Meeting: 03/12/2026 1:00PM Room 315.
- Mar 10Subcommittee: Schultz, Dickey, and Weiner.
- Mar 5Read first time, referred to Judiciary.Minor
- Mar 5Message from House.
- Mar 4Immediate message.
- Vote recorded Shall amendment H-8139 be adopted? Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded Shall amendment H-8138 be adopted? Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded Shall the bill pass? Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 4Passed House, yeas 64, nays 29.Passed 1st Chamber
- Mar 4Amendment H-8113 adopted.Major
- Mar 4Amendment H-8138, yeas 29, nays 64, lost.
- Mar 4Amendment H-8139, yeas 28, nays 65, lost.
- Mar 3Amendments H-8138 and H-8139 filed.
- Mar 3Amendment H-8113 filed.Minor
- Feb 24Introduced, placed on calendar.Introduced
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