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Read. Follow. Verify.Iowa Bill Regulates Employer Use of Automated Decision Systems and Establishes Notice Rules
Last action · February 23, 2026: Subcommittee: Driscoll, Donahue, and Pike. S.J. 361 .Sponsor: Liz Bennett
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What This Bill Would Do
Employers using s for workplace management must provide advance written notice to employees, restrict certain algorithmic practices, and guarantee workers access to their personal performance data. The bill sets a civil penalty of $500 per violation and assigns enforcement to the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing.
Workers gain formal rights to be informed when algorithms influence scheduling, discipline, or termination, and gain legal standing to sue employers for retaliation or privacy violations involving automated tracking.
- State legislatures across the country are increasingly introducing bills to regulate the use of algorithms, artificial intelligence, and automated metrics in hiring, management, and workplace discipline. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Employees
Workers receive rights to advance notice, data access, and protections against fully automated termination or disciplinary actions.
Employers
Businesses must update disclosure practices, implement human review processes for terminations, and maintain updated lists of automated decision systems.
Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing
The department is tasked with enforcing the new chapter, investigating violations, issuing citations, and collecting civil penalties.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of tools are exempt from the definition of an automated decision system?
How often can an employee request their data used by an automated decision system?
What is the penalty for an employer who violates this legislation?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
2 actions- Feb 23, 2026SenateSubcommittee: Driscoll, Donahue, and Pike. S.J. 361 .
- Feb 19, 2026SenateIntroducedIntroduced, referred to Workforce. S.J. 330 .
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Expansion of Labor Services Mandate
The bill introduces a brand new chapter (91F) dedicated entirely to regulating artificial intelligence and automated decision tools in employment settings.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.legis.iowa.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance80How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy65Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz50Current news / social attention level
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