This bill establishes funding and operational rules for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to promote state-produced agricultural products. It allocates up to $1.75 million annually for renewable fuel infrastructure at retail fuel stations and creates a Choose Iowa promotional program that allows farms and businesses to use a state logo for marketing their products. The legislation also creates two new purchasing programs: one that matches school district spending on eligible Iowa food products with state funds, and another that reimburses food banks and emergency feeding organizations on a one-dollar-for-one-dollar basis when they buy from participating Iowa producers. These programs are limited to specific food categories and include administrative caps and reporting requirements to ensure accountability.
This bill creates a new Scenic Byways Enhancement Fund in Iowa to support the maintenance and improvement of scenic roads across the state. The fund will be financed through voluntary one-dollar contributions collected from vehicle registration applicants and existing state transfers, with all collected money going to the state treasury except for a small portion counties may keep. The state department of transportation will manage the fund to cover costs for litter prevention, upkeep, and development of scenic routes. The legislation takes effect on January 1, 2027, and requires the department to establish rules for administering the program.
HF 2561 prohibits "street takeovers" - events involving three or more motor vehicles operating in violation of traffic laws (like reckless driving or drag racing) or with spectators present. Participants face escalating penalties: a first offense includes a $500-$2,000 fine and driver’s license revocation, while third offenses carry up to $7,500 fines and five years in prison. Organizers face a class D felony charge (up to five years in prison), and spectators risk a $400 fine. Police must impound vehicles used in these events for 30 days, with unclaimed vehicles subject to abandonment laws.
HSB 699 requires commercial drivers in Iowa to demonstrate sufficient English language proficiency to obtain or renew a commercial driver’s license (CDL) or commercial learner’s permit (CLP). The bill mandates a computer-based exam covering reading, speaking, and understanding English for tasks like interpreting traffic signs, responding to officials, and completing reports - aligning with federal standards (49 C.F.R §391.11(b)(2)). It prohibits issuing licenses without proof of proficiency and imposes penalties: $3,000-$10,000 civil fines for carriers employing unproficient drivers (with escalating amounts for repeat violations) and $1,000 fines plus a serious misdemeanor charge for drivers operating commercial vehicles without proficiency. The law applies directly to CDL applicants, commercial motor carriers, and drivers operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in Iowa.
This bill (HSB 686) expands traffic law exemptions for drivers of authorized emergency vehicles and police officers riding bicycles during official duties in Iowa. It specifically allows these drivers to proceed through red lights after slowing to a safe speed and exceed speed limits, provided they do not recklessly endanger people or property. The changes apply to all authorized emergency vehicles - including privately owned vehicles like towing trucks - and explicitly include police officers on bicycles. These exemptions require the use of audible or visual signals unless officers are pursuing speed violators, transporting patients with urgent medical needs, or in other specific safety-related scenarios. The bill clarifies existing rules without creating new penalties, maintaining the current $135 fine for violations of these provisions.
HF 2655 amends Iowa law to clarify that drivers of authorized emergency vehicles (including police officers riding bicycles in the line of duty) may proceed through red lights after slowing safely and exceed speed limits without reckless endangerment. The bill explicitly extends these traffic exemptions to privately owned emergency vehicles like towing trucks and specifies the conditions under which officers may operate without audible or visual warning devices (e.g., pursuing speed violators or transporting critical patients). These exemptions remain conditional on using warning devices unless specific safety or operational circumstances apply. The bill does not change which vehicles qualify as emergency vehicles but refines when traffic law exemptions apply.
This bill increases the state appropriation for nonpublic school pupil transportation reimbursement by $186,883.55, raising the total limit to $9,183,974.55 for fiscal year 2025-2026. It directly affects nonpublic schools (like private or religious schools) that receive state funding for student transportation services. The key provision requires the Department of Education to use the additional funds to pay claims delayed due to administrative errors, while also mandating proration of all approved claims if total requests exceed the new appropriation limit. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.
SF 2426 requires commercial drivers in Iowa to demonstrate English language proficiency meeting federal standards (49 C.F.R. §391.11(b)(2)) to obtain or renew a commercial driver's license. The bill mandates a computer-based English proficiency exam administered by the Iowa Department of Transportation, with exemptions for those who previously passed the test. Drivers who fail to meet the requirement face a serious misdemeanor charge ($1,000 fine), while commercial motor carriers employing unproficient drivers risk fines up to $10,000 per violation. The law takes effect March 1, 2027, or upon implementation of a new state records system, whichever comes first.
This bill updates Iowa's child passenger safety requirements. It extends the rear-facing car seat requirement from children under 1 year to those under 2 years (or until reaching the car seat's height/weight limits). It raises the age for forward-facing car seats from under 6 to under 8 years, and changes the requirement for booster seats or seatbelts to apply to children aged 8-18 (instead of 6-18). The bill removes an existing exemption allowing unrestrained children in the back seat if seatbelts are occupied by others. The rules apply to all registered motor vehicles except school buses and motorcycles.
HF 2350 creates a special instruction permit pathway for Iowa drivers whose licenses were suspended due to physical or mental incapacity to operate a vehicle safely. It allows eligible individuals to obtain this permit by providing a favorable medical report (from a physician or qualified provider), meeting other requirements, and paying a fee, which temporarily halts the license suspension. The permit remains valid for up to six months and requires no driving test, but the original suspension automatically reinstates if a driver's license isn't obtained before the permit expires. This bill specifically waives reinstatement fees for suspensions under section 321.210, subsection 1, paragraph "a", subparagraph (3), related to incapacity.
