This bill allows manufacturers of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) - defined as vehicles powered solely by rechargeable batteries, without internal combustion engines - to be licensed as dealers specifically for their own vehicles. Currently, state law prohibits vehicle manufacturers from owning or operating dealerships, but this bill creates a new exception for BEV makers. The change would let companies like Tesla sell directly to consumers through their own dealerships, rather than relying on third-party dealers. It does not affect dealerships selling conventional vehicles or other vehicle types. The bill is pending in the Judiciary Subcommittee.
HF 41 (withdrawn February 24, 2025) would have increased penalties for drivers convicted of traffic violations causing serious injury or death. Specifically, it added violations of Iowa Code § 321.288 (requiring reduced speed for pedestrians, animals, work zones, or hazardous conditions) to the list of offenses triggering additional penalties. If convicted of such a violation causing serious injury, drivers could face a $500 fine, up to 90 days license suspension, or both. For violations causing death, penalties would include a $1,000 fine, up to 180 days license suspension, or both. The bill was approved by committee but later withdrawn.
HF 457 extends the period before a driver's license revocation takes effect following an operating-while-intoxicated (OWI) violation or refusal to take a chemical test, changing it from 10 to 20 days after notice is mailed by the Department of Transportation. It also extends the validity of temporary licenses issued by peace officers during immediate revocation notices from 10 to 20 days. The bill directly affects drivers convicted of OWI or who refused testing, altering the timeline for license revocation and temporary license duration. This change applies only to the effective date of revocation and temporary license validity, leaving other timelines (like hearing requests) unchanged. The policy modifies existing administrative procedures without changing OWI offense definitions or penalties.
This bill changes Iowa's rules for commercial drivers transporting hazardous materials intrastate. It removes an existing exception that allowed 18-year-olds to drive such vehicles, now requiring drivers to meet the federal minimum age of 21 for all intrastate hazardous material transport. It also eliminates a separate exemption for retail dealers of farm products (fertilizers, petroleum, pesticides) delivering within 100 miles of their business. These changes apply to private and for-hire motor carriers operating solely within Iowa.
HF 79 requires vehicle owners in Iowa to present proof of a valid driver's license and current insurance coverage when renewing vehicle registration. This applies to most registered vehicles, directly affecting owners, lessees, or primary users who need to renew their registration. The bill mandates that county treasurers or the Department of Transportation must refuse renewal if these proofs are not provided, with limited exceptions for government-owned vehicles or certain dealers. The change updates existing registration rules by adding these two requirements to the renewal process.
This bill requires Iowa school bus drivers to complete a department-approved training course within six months of starting work and every 24 months thereafter. It allows the Iowa Department of Education to accept proof of federal entry-level driver training (ELDT) that includes school bus and passenger endorsement curriculum as meeting this requirement, aligning with federal safety standards. Drivers who fail to provide proof of completion will lose their school bus authorization until they complete the required training. The bill directly affects all current and new school bus drivers in Iowa and ensures state requirements comply with federal regulations.
HF 40 mandates a 30-day driver's license revocation for Iowa drivers convicted of exceeding 100 miles per hour. It specifically requires immediate license seizure by peace officers when a driver is cited for 100+ mph speeding, with a temporary 10-day license issued pending formal revocation. The bill prohibits temporary restricted licenses during this 30-day revocation period and applies to first-time offenses of this speed violation. This change expands mandatory revocation to include high-speed offenses beyond existing provisions for reckless driving or drag racing.
HF 202 modifies Iowa's restricted driver's license rules for minors aged 14-18. It adds "attending religious worship services or participating in volunteer service programs at the licensee’s established place of religious worship" to the list of approved destinations for unsupervised driving. The bill maintains the existing 25-mile distance limit and requires driving during the hour before and after these activities. This change directly affects minors holding special minor’s restricted licenses who need to travel for religious purposes.
HF 506 standardizes penalties for drivers operating vehicles while their license or operating privileges are restricted (denied, canceled, suspended, revoked, or barred). It sets a fixed $250 fine for a first offense across all license restriction scenarios, replacing the previous $250-$1,500 range. Subsequent offenses are tiered: a second offense becomes a simple misdemeanor, and third or later offenses become serious misdemeanors. The bill also removes the current prohibition on suspending sentences for these violations. This affects anyone driving with an active license restriction under Iowa’s motor vehicle laws.
HF 569 requires immediate revocation of Iowa driver's licenses for drivers caught speeding at 100 miles per hour or more. Peace officers can take the license on the spot, issue a 10-day temporary license, and send it to the Department of Transportation. The license is revoked for 30 days with no option for a temporary restricted license during that period. This applies specifically to drivers exceeding 100 mph, not other speeding violations.
