Transportation

signed · Iowa · Senate May 27, 2026

SF 2426: A bill for an act relating to sufficient English language proficiency requirements for commercial drivers, providing penalties, and including applicability provisions.

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.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationRequires English proficiency for commercial drivers per federal safety standards (49 C.F.R. §391.11(b)(2)), enhancing transportation safety through language competency requirements.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licensing

introduced · Iowa · House Mar 4, 2026

HF 2344: A bill for an act relating to the use of child restraint devices by certain children traveling in motor vehicles.

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.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationUpdates vehicle safety standards for child restraints, directly enhancing transportation safety regulations for motor vehicles.90% confidence

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introduced · Iowa · House Feb 9, 2026

HF 2350: A bill for an act relating to the suspension of a driver’s license issued to a person physically or mentally incapable of safely operating a motor vehicle.

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.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill requires medical evaluation for license reinstatement, enhancing driver safety standards under vehicle regulations.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licensing

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SSB 3173: A bill for an act relating to a statewide urban design and specifications board, including assessment of costs for local government projects that do not comply with the board’s design or specifications manuals.

SSB 3173 creates a statewide urban design and specifications board within Iowa's Department of Transportation. The board will develop and publish design and specifications manuals for local government projects, requiring counties and cities to follow these standards when approving projects. If a county or city approves a project that doesn’t comply with the board’s manuals, they must pay any additional costs - property owners cannot be charged for these noncompliance costs. The bill mandates the board to publish cost analysis for any manual changes and establishes a 15-member board with representation from local governments, industry groups, and the state.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationCreates DOT board to set infrastructure design standards, mandating compliance for local projects to ensure quality and cost accountability in transportation infrastructure development.95% confidence

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SSB 3122: A bill for an act relating to the compatibility of passenger vehicles rented or leased by the state with biodiesel blended fuel classified as B-20 or higher, and including applicability provisions.

This bill requires state agencies to only rent or lease passenger vehicles with diesel engines that have manufacturer certification confirming compatibility with B-20 biodiesel (a 20% biodiesel blend). It directly affects state vehicle rental/lease contracts by mandating this certification for all new or renewed contracts issued after July 1, 2026. The requirement extends an existing standard currently applied to state-purchased vehicles (under Code 8A.368(4)) to rental and leasing contracts under Section 8A.367.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyMandates state vehicle rentals compatible with B-20 biodiesel, promoting renewable biofuel use and reducing fossil fuel dependence in state fleets.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationMandates biodiesel compatibility for state-leased vehicles, promoting sustainable transportation through renewable fuel use in state motor pools.90% confidence

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passed · Iowa · House Mar 26, 2026

HF 2628: A bill for an act relating to the driving privileges of persons under the age of eighteen who were previously issued a special minor’s restricted license that was subsequently suspended, and including applicability provisions.

HF 2628 allows Iowa's Department of Transportation to issue instruction permits to minors under 18 whose special restricted driving licenses were suspended due to violations (like traffic offenses or accidents). This replaces the current rule that blocked them from obtaining any license type for three months after their 16th birthday. The instruction permit ($6 fee) permits supervised driving with an approved adult (parent, guardian, instructor, or 25+ person with permission) in the front seat. The bill takes effect March 1, 2027, or when the new license system launches, whichever comes first.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enhances road safety by enabling supervised driving practice for minors after license suspension, aligning with transportation safety indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licensing

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signed · Iowa · Senate Apr 9, 2026

SF 2214: A bill for an act relating to the installation of transmission lines on highway rights-of-way.

SF 2214 requires Iowa's Department of Transportation (DOT) to coordinate with utility companies upon written request when planning transmission line placements on highway corridors. It mandates the DOT to assign a project coordinator within 30 days and share future highway project plans that might affect transmission lines. The bill allows longitudinal transmission lines on primary roads (including interstates) with DOT approval, unless safety or highway function is threatened, and requires public disclosure of denial reasons within 90 days. This directly affects utility companies seeking to install lines along highways and the DOT's permitting process. The law updates existing rules to create a more structured, timely coordination process for transmission line installations.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyFacilitates transmission line infrastructure development for utilities, enabling efficient energy distribution without restricting energy sources.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationFacilitates transmission line coordination on highways via DOT, enhancing infrastructure planning without disrupting highway use or safety.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Transmission Roads & Highways

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SF 2355: A bill for an act relating to intelligent speed assistance devices on motor vehicles, making penalties applicable, and including effective date provisions.

This bill requires drivers who lose their license for severe speeding violations (exceeding speed limits by 10+ mph under 40 mph or 20+ mph over 40 mph) to install an intelligent speed assistance device in their vehicle to qualify for a temporary restricted license. The device must be approved by the state, and drivers cannot tamper with it. The law applies only to those whose license was revoked under specific speeding violations (sections 321.209, subsections 1, paragraphs "h" or "i"), not all speeding offenses. It also gives the state authority to set device standards and eligibility for low-income drivers. The bill includes effective date provisions but doesn't change penalties for speeding itself.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationRequires intelligent speed devices for severe speeding offenders to enhance road safety, directly aligning with transportation safety standards under speed limits and vehicle regulations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Traffic Safety

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died · Iowa · House Mar 31, 2026

HF 2700: A bill for an act relating to sufficient English language proficiency requirements for commercial drivers, providing penalties, and including applicability provisions.

HF 2700 requires Iowa commercial drivers to demonstrate English language proficiency through a computer-based exam administered by the Department of Transportation before obtaining or renewing a commercial driver's license. Drivers who fail to meet the requirement cannot operate commercial vehicles and face a $1,000 fine or up to one year in jail for violating this provision. Commercial carriers that employ unproficient drivers face civil penalties of $3,000 for a first violation, increasing to $10,000 for subsequent violations, with fines deposited into the road use tax fund. The law aligns with federal safety standards (49 C.F.R. §391.11(b)(2)) and takes effect no earlier than March 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationRequires English proficiency for commercial drivers to enhance safety compliance, aligning with transportation safety standards.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licensing Roads & Highways

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died · Iowa · House Mar 5, 2026

HF 2268: A bill for an act relating to the administration and regulation of matters associated with the operation, registration, and titling of motor vehicles, making penalties applicable, and including applicability provisions.

HF 2268 updates Iowa's motor vehicle regulations, primarily affecting drivers with chauffeur's instruction permits. It increases the fee for these permits to $12 (from $6 for standard instruction permits) and requires them to face the same suspension or revocation rules as regular driver's licenses. The bill also mandates that accident reports involving injuries, deaths, or $5,500+ in property damage must be submitted electronically within 72 hours. Additionally, it standardizes electronic reporting for all accident documentation and clarifies that chauffeur's permits issued before the law's effective date remain valid until their expiration.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationUpdates vehicle regulations with stricter permit rules, mandatory electronic accident reporting for safety incidents, enhancing regulatory oversight in transportation operations.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licensing Vehicle Registration

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