Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 85.1 (2026)

Inapplicability of chapter

✓ current as of July 2026

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Except as provided in subsection 6 of this section, this chapter does not apply to: 1. Any employee engaged in any type of service in or about a private dwelling except that after July 1, 1997, this chapter shall apply to such persons who earn one thousand five hundred dollars or more from such employer for whom employed at the time of the injury during the twelve consecutive months prior to the injury, provided the employee is not a regular member of the household. For purposes of this subsection, “member of the household” is defined to be the spouse of the employer or relatives of either the employer or spouse residing on the premises of the employer. 2. Persons whose employment is purely casual and not for the purpose of the employer’s trade or business, except that after July 1, 1997, this chapter shall apply to such employees who earn one thousand five hundred dollars or more from such employer for whom employed at the time of the injury during the twelve consecutive months prior to the injury. 3. Persons engaged in agriculture, insofar as injuries incurred by employees while engaged in agricultural pursuits or any operations immediately connected therewith whether on or off the premises of the employer, except: a. This chapter applies to persons not specifically exempted by paragraph “b” of this subsection if at the time of injury the person is employed by an employer whose total cash payroll to one or more persons other than those exempted by paragraph “b” of this subsection amounted to two thousand five hundred dollars or more during the preceding calendar year. b. The following persons or employees or groups of employees are specifically included within the exemption from coverage of this chapter provided by this subsection: (1) The spouse of the employer, parents, brothers, sisters, children, and stepchildren of either the employer or the spouse of the employer, and the spouses of the brothers, sisters, children, and stepchildren of either the employer or the spouse of the employer. (2) The spouse of a partner of a partnership, the parents, brothers, sisters, children, and stepchildren of either a partner or the spouse of a partner, and the spouses of the brothers, sisters, children, and stepchildren of either a partner or the spouse of a partner, who are employed by the partnership and actually engaged in agricultural pursuits or operations immediately connected with the agricultural pursuits either on or off the premises of the partnership. For the purpose of this subparagraph, “partnership” includes partnerships, limited partnerships, and joint ventures. (3) Officers of a family farm corporation or members of a limited liability company, spouses of the officers or members, the parents, brothers, sisters, children, and stepchildren of either the officers or members, or the spouses of the officers or members, and the spouses of the brothers, sisters, children, and stepchildren of either the officers or members, or the spouses of the officers or members who are employed by the corporation or limited liability company, the primary purpose of which, although not necessarily the stated purpose, is farming or ownership of agricultural land, and who are actually engaged in agricultural pursuits or operations immediately connected with the agricultural pursuits either on or off the premises of the corporation or limited liability company. (4) A person engaged in agriculture as an owner of agricultural land, as a farm operator, or as a person engaged in agriculture who is exempt from coverage under this chapter by subsection 3, paragraph “b”, subparagraph (1), (2), or (3), while exchanging labor with another owner of agricultural land, farm operator, or person engaged in agriculture who is exempt from coverage under this chapter by subsection 3, paragraph “b”, subparagraph (1), (2), or (3), for the mutual benefit of all such persons. 4. Persons entitled to benefits pursuant to chapters 410 and 411. 5. The president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer of a corporation other than a family farm corporation, not to exceed four officers per corporation, if such an officer knowingly and voluntarily rejects workers’ compensation coverage pursuant to section 87.22. 6. Employers may with respect to an employee or a classification of employees exempt

Tue Dec 09 22:29:51 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 85 (59, 0) 3 WORKERS’ COMPENSATION, §85.3\n\nfrom coverage provided by this chapter pursuant to subsection 1, 2, or 3, other than the employee or classification of employees with respect to whom a rule of liability or a method of compensation is established by the Congress of the United States, assume a liability for compensation imposed upon employers by this chapter, for the benefit of employees within the coverage of this chapter, by the purchase of valid workers’ compensation insurance that does not specifically exclude the employee or classification of employees. The purchase of and acceptance by an employer of valid workers’ compensation insurance applicable to the employee or classification of employees constitutes an assumption by the employer of liability without any further act on the part of the employer, but only with respect to the employee or classification of employees as are within the coverage of the workers’ compensation insurance contract and only for the time period in which the insurance contract is in force. Upon an election of such coverage, the employee or classification of employees shall accept compensation in the manner provided by this chapter and the employer shall be relieved from any other liability for recovery of damage, or other compensation for injury. [S13, §2477-m; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §1361; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §85.1; 82 Acts, ch 1161, §1, 2, ch 1221, §1] 83 Acts, ch 36, §1, 2, 8; 84 Acts, ch 1067, §14; 96 Acts, ch 1059, §1; 97 Acts, ch 43, §1, 2; 2007 Acts, ch 128, §1; 2022 Acts, ch 1021, §26 Referred to in §85.2, 85.61, 85.62, 87.21

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 39 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1949–2026 · leading case: Zomer v. West River Farms, Inc., 666 N.W.2d 130 (Iowa 2003).

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Zomer v. West River Farms, Inc., 666 N.W.2d 130 (Iowa 2003). · cites it 22× “See Iowa Code § 85.1 (3)( b )(3), (6) (1997).”

Andover Volunteer Fire Dep't v. Grinnell Mut. Reinsurance Co., 787 N.W.2d 75 (Iowa 2010). · cites it 4× “75, §§ 2, 3 (codified at Iowa Code §§ 85.1 (4), .61(8) (1946)) (defining "volunteer firemen" and providing for compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Law).”

Ross v. Ross, 308 N.W.2d 50 (Iowa 1981). · cites it 7× “Section 85.1(3) excludes from coverage persons who are children of the employer.”

Snook v. Herrmann, 161 N.W.2d 185 (Iowa 1968). · cites it 10× “As material here Code section 85.1 provides: “ * * * this chapter shall not apply to: * * * 3.”

Goebel v. City of Cedar Rapids, 267 N.W.2d 388 (Iowa 1978). · cites it 4× “See § 85.1(4), The Code. We think it is fair to conclude from this history that workers' compensation and chapter 411 benefits serve equivalent purposes and are mutually exclusive.”

Wetzel v. Wilson, 276 N.W.2d 410 (Iowa 1979). · cites it 5× “Prior to a 1973 amendment to § 85.1 (1973 Session, Laws of the 65th G.”

Michele M. Pitts v. Farm Bureau Life Ins. Co. & Donald Schiffer, 818 N.W.2d 91 (Iowa 2012). “As one commentator has noted, [t]he critical element in establishing a duty [to a third party who claims to have been damaged by an agent’s failure to procure insurance] is the foreseeability of harm to a potential plaintiff. Liability will not lie against an [insurance agent]…”

Crouse v. Lloyd's Turkey Ranch, 100 N.W.2d 115 (Iowa 1959). · cites it 6× “The defendant relies entirely upon the exclusion contained in section 85.1, subsection 3, Code of 1954.”

Horsman v. Wahl, 551 N.W.2d 619 (Iowa 1996). · cites it 2× “The issue on appeal is whether a sole proprietor who purchases workers’ compensation insurance for himself or herself pursuant to the election provided for in Iowa Code section 85.1 A (1995) is considered an “employee” under the definitions contained in section 85.”

Johnson v. City of Red Oak, 197 N.W.2d 548 (Iowa 1972). · cites it 9× “” Section 85.1(4), Code, 1966 provided: “ * * * this chapter shall not apply to: “ * * * “4.”

Hanna v. Fleetguard, Inc., 900 F. Supp. 1110 (N.D. Iowa 1995). · cites it 2× “However, Iowa workers’ compensation laws are creatures of statute, see Iowa Code § 85.1 et seq., whereas the duty of good faith that flows from the insurer to the insured is a judicially-created obligation owed by all insurers and applicable to all policies of insurance.”

Ethel M. Munsinger v. Richard Schweiker, Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 709 F.2d 1212 (8th Cir. 1983). “Iowa Code Ann. § 85.1 et seq. (Supp.1983).”

Show all 39 citing cases →

— Iowa Code § 85.1(3) — 8 cases

Zomer v. West River Farms, Inc., 666 N.W.2d 130 (Iowa 2003). “See Iowa Code § 85.1 (3)( b )(3), (6) (1997).”

Ross v. Ross, 308 N.W.2d 50 (Iowa 1981). “Section 85.1(3) excludes from coverage persons who are children of the employer.”

Snook v. Herrmann, 161 N.W.2d 185 (Iowa 1968). “As material here Code section 85.1 provides: “ * * * this chapter shall not apply to: * * * 3.”

Usgaard v. Silver Crest Golf Club, 127 N.W.2d 636 (Iowa 1964).

Sheahan v. Plagge, 121 N.W.2d 120 (Iowa 1963).

— Iowa Code § 85.1(3)(6)(3) — 1 case

Zomer v. West River Farms, Inc., 666 N.W.2d 130 (Iowa 2003). “See Iowa Code § 85.1 (3)( b )(3), (6) (1997).”

— Iowa Code § 85.1(3)(a) — 1 case

Wetzel v. Wilson, 276 N.W.2d 410 (Iowa 1979). “Prior to a 1973 amendment to § 85.1 (1973 Session, Laws of the 65th G.”

— Iowa Code § 85.1(3)(b) — 1 case

Ross v. Ross, 308 N.W.2d 50 (Iowa 1981). “Section 85.1(3) excludes from coverage persons who are children of the employer.”

— Iowa Code § 85.1(4) — 5 cases

Goebel v. City of Cedar Rapids, 267 N.W.2d 388 (Iowa 1978). “See § 85.1(4), The Code. We think it is fair to conclude from this history that workers' compensation and chapter 411 benefits serve equivalent purposes and are mutually exclusive.”

Johnson v. City of Red Oak, 197 N.W.2d 548 (Iowa 1972). “” Section 85.1(4), Code, 1966 provided: “ * * * this chapter shall not apply to: “ * * * “4.”

City of Davenport v. Laura Paulsen F/K/A Laura Timm (Iowa Ct. App. 2014).

Sara Montague, individually, & as parent & next friend of C.M., a minor, & as the duly authorized Rep. of the Est. of Robert McFarland v. Beth Skinner, William Sperfslage, Samantha Tucker-Sieberg, Sarah Holder, Daniel Clark, Jeremy Larson, Michael Heinricy, Chad Kerker, Scott Eschen, Brian Tracy, Robert Hartig, Josh Baal, Tracy Dietsch, Jeremy Burds, Jon Day, Lucas Fowler (Iowa 2026).

Kremer v. Noble, 304 N.W.2d 215 (Iowa 1981).

— Iowa Code § 85.1(5) — 1 case

Roe v. Roe, 146 N.W.2d 236 (Iowa 1966).

— Iowa Code § 85.1(6) — 3 cases

Zomer v. West River Farms, Inc., 666 N.W.2d 130 (Iowa 2003). “See Iowa Code § 85.1 (3)( b )(3), (6) (1997).”

Harvey's Casino v. Isenhour, 724 N.W.2d 705 (Iowa 2006).

Harvey's Casino Vs. Beverly Isenhour Vs. Amanda A. Davis (Iowa 2006).

— Iowa Code § 85.1(8) — 1 case

Zomer v. West River Farms, Inc., 666 N.W.2d 130 (Iowa 2003). “See Iowa Code § 85.1 (3)( b )(3), (6) (1997).”

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