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SSB 3005

A bill for an act relating to work search requirements for unemployment benefits for certain individuals with disabilities.

2025-2026 Regular Session

The bill tailors unemployment work search rules for claimants with disabilities, allowing accommodations and modified reporting to ensure eligibility while guarding against abuse.

Committee report approving bill, renumbered as SF 2087.
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Bill Summary · SSB 3005

Summary of SSB 3005 (Session: 2025-2026, Iowa)

Purpose and intent

  • SSB 3005 proposes changes to the work search requirements tied to unemployment insurance benefits for certain individuals with disabilities.
  • The underlying goal is to modify when and how work search activities must be documented for claimants who have a disability, aiming to balance benefit eligibility with reasonable accommodations and state unemployment program integrity.

Key provisions and changes

  • The bill specifically addresses work search requirements for unemployment benefits for a subset of claimants who have a disability.
  • It modifies one or more of the following areas (as typically addressed in such proposals):
    • Definitions: Clarifies who is eligible for modified work search requirements due to disability.
    • Verification: Sets criteria for how claimants must demonstrate ongoing work search efforts.
    • Accommodations: Establishes or references accommodations or alternative activities suitable for individuals with disabilities (e.g., relaxed search standards, modified reporting).
    • Compliance and reporting: Specifies reporting methods, documentation timelines, and what constitutes compliance for purposes of continued eligibility.
  • The bill may provide a mechanism to adjust or waive certain standard work search activities if a claimant’s disability reasonably prevents full compliance, while maintaining oversight to prevent misuse.
  • It aligns unemployment insurance administration with disability considerations, potentially involving state agency procedures for determining eligibility and continued benefits.

Who is affected

  • Unemployment claimants in Iowa who have a disability and would be subject to work search requirements.
  • Employers and the state Workforce Development/Unemployment Insurance program in Iowa, which administers benefits and monitors compliance.
  • Agencies responsible for disability determination, vocational rehabilitation, or related accommodations may interact with the unemployment process under this bill.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • History in the current session:
    • 2026-01-12: Introduced and referred to the Workforce committee.
    • 2026-01-12: Subcommittee met (Dickey, Driscoll, Townsend) and recommended amendments.
    • 2026-01-13: Subcommittee meeting occurred (scheduled for 01/14/2026 at 11:00 AM in Room 217 Conference Room).
    • 2026-01-14: Subcommittee recommended amendment and passage.
    • 2026-01-21: Committee report approving the bill; renumbered as SF 2087.
  • Next steps (typical legislative process): If approved by the committee, the bill would move to the full chamber for debate, potential amendments, and a floor vote, followed by the other legislative chamber and eventually signature or veto by the governor.
  • The renumbering to SF 2087 indicates internal tracking and potential movement to the Senate floor under a new designation, with the substantive content remaining consistent with SSB 3005 as introduced.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Benefits: Creates a framework for providing reasonable work search requirements tailored to individuals with disabilities, potentially reducing unnecessary barriers to unemployment benefits while preserving program integrity.
  • Considerations: Requires clear criteria to prevent abuse, ensure timely documentation, and maintain fairness for claimants while safeguarding resources for those who meet disability-related exceptions or accommodations.
  • Implementation: Dependent on precise language clarifying who qualifies, what evidence is acceptable, and how accommodations interact with existing state unemployment procedures.

If you’d like, I can pull the bill’s text to extract exact language on definitions, exemptions, reporting standards, and any monetary or administrative indicators to refine this summary.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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