1. A person shall not discharge an employee from or take or fail to take action regarding an employee’s appointment or proposed appointment to, promotion or proposed promotion to, or any advantage in, a position in employment by a political subdivision of this state as a reprisal for a disclosure of any information by that employee to a member or employee of the general assembly, an official of that political subdivision, a person providing human resource management for that political subdivision, or a state official, or for a disclosure of information to any other public official or law enforcement agency if the employee, in good faith, reasonably believes the information evidences a violation of law or rule, mismanagement, a gross abuse of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific\n\nTue Dec 09 22:30:29 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 70A (53, 2) 15 FINANCIAL & OTHER PROVISIONS FOR PUBLIC OFFICERS & EMPLOYEES, §70A.39\n\ndanger to public health or safety. This section does not apply if the disclosure of the information is prohibited by statute.
2. A person who violates subsection 1 commits a simple misdemeanor.
3. Subsection 1 may be enforced through a civil action.
a. A person who violates subsection 1 is liable to an aggrieved employee for affirmative relief including reinstatement, with or without back pay, civil damages in an amount not to exceed three times the annual wages and benefits received by the aggrieved employee prior to the violation of subsection 1, and any other equitable relief the court deems appropriate, including attorney fees and costs.
b. When a person commits, is committing, or proposes to commit an act in violation of subsection 1, an injunction may be granted through an action in district court to prohibit the person from continuing such acts. The action for injunctive relief may be brought by an aggrieved employee, the county attorney, or the person providing human resource management for the political subdivision.
4. Each political subdivision of this state subject to the requirements of this section shall provide procedures for notifying new employees of the authority of the office of ombudsman to investigate complaints under chapter 2C and shall provide information to all employees of the political subdivision, including the toll-free telephone number of the ombudsman. 85 Acts, ch 60, §1 CS85, §79.29 89 Acts, ch 124, §3 C93, §70A.29 2019 Acts, ch 109, §2 – 4 Referred to in §20.8, 279.51A, 279.73 Reprisals relating to state merit system prohibited, see §8A.417 \n
Notes of Decisions
Shepard v. Wapello Cnty., Iowa, 250 F. Supp. 2d 1112 (S.D. Iowa 2003).
· cites it 16× “Count II alleges defendants violated Iowa Code § 70A.29, which prohibits an employer from discharging, disciplining or failing to hire an individual “as a reprisal *1115 for a disclosure of any information by that employee to” certain public officials.”
Worthington v. Kenkel, 684 N.W.2d 228 (Iowa 2004).
· cites it 2× “2d 128, 131 (Iowa 1989) (discussing Iowa Code section 70A.29, which also protects whistle-blowing).”
Shepard v. Wapello Cnty., 303 F. Supp. 2d 1004 (S.D. Iowa 2003).
· cites it 4× “Iowa Code § 70A.29(1), (3). Kirkendall was the sole defendant on this claim.”
Thompto v. Coborn's Inc., 871 F. Supp. 1097 (N.D. Iowa 1994).
· cites it 2× “, Iowa Code § 70A.29 (“no-retaliation” clause in public employee’s “whistle-blower” act); Iowa Code § 91A.”
Smuck v. Nat'l Mgmt. Corp., 540 N.W.2d 669 (Iowa Ct. App. 1995).
· cites it 2× “Iowa’s whistle-blower statute, Iowa Code section 70A.29, applies only to public employees who report violations of law to law enforcement officials.”
Mercer v. City of Cedar Rapids, 104 F. Supp. 2d 1130 (N.D. Iowa 2000).
· cites it 2× “1995) (concluding that a wrongful termination claim by a private employee did not fall within the public policy of the Iowa Code § 70A.29, as the statute applies only to public employees who report violations of law to law enforcement officials).”
Rick Carter v. Lee Cnty., Iowa (Iowa Ct. App. 2015).
· cites it 28× “” The supervisors fired Carter and Carter sued the county under Iowa Code section 70A.29 (2011), a statute prohibiting reprisals against employees of political subdivisions who disclose negative information.”
Jacob Hackman v. New Hampton Mun. Light Plant (Iowa Ct. App. 2015).
· cites it 26× “The petition included a tort action for retaliatory wrongful discharge and a claim of a violation of Iowa’s whistleblower statute, Iowa Code section 70A.29 (2013).3 At trial, the Plant moved for directed verdict at the close of Hackman’s case and again at the close of its…”
Andre Ruby v. Cent. Cmty. Hosp. (Iowa Ct. App. 2020).
· cites it 7× “4See Iowa Code § 70A.29. 5 See generally Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), Pub.”
— Iowa Code § 70A.29(1) — 7 cases
Shepard v. Wapello Cnty., 303 F. Supp. 2d 1004 (S.D. Iowa 2003).
“Iowa Code § 70A.29(1), (3). Kirkendall was the sole defendant on this claim.”
Shepard v. Wapello Cnty., Iowa, 250 F. Supp. 2d 1112 (S.D. Iowa 2003).
“Count II alleges defendants violated Iowa Code § 70A.29, which prohibits an employer from discharging, disciplining or failing to hire an individual “as a reprisal *1115 for a disclosure of any information by that employee to” certain public officials.”
Rick Carter v. Lee Cnty., Iowa (Iowa Ct. App. 2015).
“” The supervisors fired Carter and Carter sued the county under Iowa Code section 70A.29 (2011), a statute prohibiting reprisals against employees of political subdivisions who disclose negative information.”
— Iowa Code § 70A.29(2) — 1 case
— Iowa Code § 70A.29(3) — 3 cases
Shepard v. Wapello Cnty., Iowa, 250 F. Supp. 2d 1112 (S.D. Iowa 2003).
“Count II alleges defendants violated Iowa Code § 70A.29, which prohibits an employer from discharging, disciplining or failing to hire an individual “as a reprisal *1115 for a disclosure of any information by that employee to” certain public officials.”
Andre Ruby v. Cent. Cmty. Hosp. (Iowa Ct. App. 2020).
“4See Iowa Code § 70A.29. 5 See generally Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), Pub.”
— Iowa Code § 70A.29(3)(a) — 4 cases
Rick Carter v. Lee Cnty., Iowa (Iowa Ct. App. 2015).
“” The supervisors fired Carter and Carter sued the county under Iowa Code section 70A.29 (2011), a statute prohibiting reprisals against employees of political subdivisions who disclose negative information.”
Jacob Hackman v. New Hampton Mun. Light Plant (Iowa Ct. App. 2015).
“The petition included a tort action for retaliatory wrongful discharge and a claim of a violation of Iowa’s whistleblower statute, Iowa Code section 70A.29 (2013).3 At trial, the Plant moved for directed verdict at the close of Hackman’s case and again at the close of its…”
— Iowa Code § 70A.29(3)(b) — 1 case
Jacob Hackman v. New Hampton Mun. Light Plant (Iowa Ct. App. 2015).
“The petition included a tort action for retaliatory wrongful discharge and a claim of a violation of Iowa’s whistleblower statute, Iowa Code section 70A.29 (2013).3 At trial, the Plant moved for directed verdict at the close of Hackman’s case and again at the close of its…”
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