Hunter
07/01/22
Governor Kim Reynolds signed over 150 bills coming from the 2022 legislative session into law, many of which go into effect today.
A new law reduces the number of weeks unemployed Iowans can get benefits from 26 to 16 weeks, making Iowa just the 4th state in the country offering benefits for just 16 weeks or less. The law also accelerates the timeline where unemployed Iowans would be required to take a job with reduced levels of wages. The governor said the legislation modernizes the state’s unemployment system and will attract new workers to businesses.
The food delivery industry will be cracked down on, facing fines for using a restaurant’s logo or menu without permission. The third party services, like DoorDash, GrubHub and Uber Eats, must now enter into agreements with the restaurants they deliver for. The drivers must also adhere to food safety regulations including a smoking ban.
Child care services now will be able to let 16-and-17 year olds work unsupervised, and the law increases the worker-child ratios.
Elder abuse is now a specific criminal offense; the new law creates penalties for elder abuse, which includes financial exploitation, assault, and theft.
And nuisance bars could be sued to have their liquor licenses pulled. City and county attorneys can now sue alcohol establishments for creating a serious threat to public safety and to seek a temporary injunction before trial, rather than relying on the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division to revoke a license.