Transportation

passed · Iowa · House Mar 24, 2025

HF 895: A bill for an act relating to regional transit districts.

HF 895 removes a population requirement for counties to create regional transit districts in Iowa. Currently, a county must have over 175,000 residents to form such a district with participating cities; this bill eliminates that threshold. It allows any county with participating cities to establish a regional transit district, including counties with populations below 175,000. The change directly affects counties and cities seeking to coordinate public transit services, particularly those without existing urban transit systems. The bill aims to expand opportunities for regional transit planning across more communities.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationRemoves population barrier for regional transit districts, enabling more counties to establish public transit services and coordinate infrastructure, directly advancing transit accessibility.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Transit

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passed · Iowa · House Mar 24, 2025

HF 886: A bill for an act relating to the improvement of United States highway 30, including prioritization by the state transportation commission and restrictions on associated use of eminent domain.

HF 886 prioritizes expanding Iowa's two-lane sections of U.S. Highway 30 into four-lane divided highways, requiring the state transportation commission to focus on this corridor from Missouri Valley to Clinton. It restricts the use of eminent domain (taking private land) for this project on century farms (family-owned for over 100 years) or residential properties until all other alternatives are exhausted. The bill directly affects landowners near Highway 30, particularly those with century farms or homes, by limiting the state's ability to acquire their property for expansion. The law mandates that the transportation commission include specific four-lane expansion plans for the entire Highway 30 route in its long-term improvement program.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill explicitly prioritizes expanding US Highway 30 to four lanes, directly advancing road infrastructure improvements per its title and summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways

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died · Iowa · House May 2, 2026

HF 882: A bill for an act relating to a railway tracks overpass and underpass fund, and making appropriations.

HF 882 creates a state fund managed by the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) to provide grants for constructing highway overpasses and underpasses across railway tracks. The fund, financed by state appropriations, will directly assist cities and counties in covering construction costs for these safety improvements, which currently require local governments to pay half of maintenance costs without similar construction support for county roads. Key provisions include prohibiting fund money from reverting at year-end and directing the DOT to distribute grants based on need. This bill addresses a gap where cities have limited support for overpass construction while counties lack comparable assistance for secondary roads.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates state fund via appropriations to finance highway safety projects, directly funding public infrastructure through budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill creates state fund for highway overpasses/underpasses to improve railway crossing safety, directly funding transportation infrastructure projects.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Bridges Rail Transportation Funding

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signed · Iowa · Senate Jun 2, 2026

SF 378: A bill for an act relating to speed limits, including the speed limit range for which certain excessive speed violations cannot be considered for certain purposes and the default speed limit for all vehicular traffic, and making penalties applicable.

SF 378 increases Iowa's default speed limit for all vehicular traffic from 55 mph to 60 mph on roads without specific posted limits. This affects all drivers traveling on most state highways and roads where no special speed zones (like school districts at 25 mph or interstates at 70 mph) apply. The bill also allows transportation agencies to temporarily use approved stickers on existing signs when updating speed limits, rather than replacing signs immediately. It does not change existing speed limits for specific areas (like school zones) or penalties for speeding violations.

Topics ✗ TransportationOpposes TransportationBill increases default speed limits (55→60 mph), weakening safety standards per indicators. Explicitly addresses speed limits under transportation policy.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Traffic Safety

in committee · Iowa · House Apr 3, 2025

HF 770: A bill for an act relating to reasonable and prudent following distances while a person is operating a motor vehicle, and making penalties applicable.

HF 770 sets specific minimum following distances for drivers based on highway speed limits: 50 feet at 35 mph or slower, 100 feet for 35-55 mph, 150 feet for 55-65 mph, and 200 feet for speeds over 65 mph. The bill directly affects all drivers operating vehicles in the same lane and direction, requiring them to maintain these distances under clear conditions. Violations remain a $135 scheduled violation, but additional penalties apply if the violation causes serious injury ($500 fine or 90-day license suspension) or death ($1,000 fine or 180-day suspension). The law amends existing traffic rules to replace vague "reasonable and prudent" standards with clear, speed-based distance requirements.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill establishes mandatory safe following distances to reduce collisions, directly enhancing road safety standards per transportation infrastructure and vehicle regulation policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licensing

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Apr 15, 2025

SSB 1219: A bill for an act relating to transportation and other infrastructure-related appropriations to the department of transportation, including allocation and use of moneys from the road use tax fund, the primary road fund, and the statutory allocations fund.

SSB 1219 is a funding bill that allocates $346 million from the primary road fund and $17.6 million from the road use tax fund to Iowa's Department of Transportation (DOT) for fiscal year 2025-2026. It directs these funds toward critical operations, including transportation maintenance ($346 million), motor vehicle operations ($32.7 million), systems modernization ($20 million), and facility repairs (e.g., $18.9 million for the Waterloo garage renovation). The bill also specifies that driver’s license and identification card fees must cover related costs, not exceeding the revenue generated. These funds directly support DOT services like road maintenance, vehicle licensing, and infrastructure projects across Iowa.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $346M from primary road fund and $17.6M from road use tax fund for transportation infrastructure, directly funding essential public services via existing appropriations.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAllocates $346M for transportation maintenance, $20M for systems modernization, and $18.9M for facility repairs per bill summary, directly funding infrastructure improvements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Transportation Funding

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signed · Iowa · House May 15, 2026

HF 766: A bill for an act relating to motor vehicle window tint, and making penalties applicable.

HF 766 modifies regulations for motor vehicle window tint, directly affecting individuals who operate vehicles on Iowa highways. The bill establishes specific light transmittance standards in state law, removing the Department of Transportation's authority to set these rules. It prohibits front windshields from having less than 70% light transmittance and side windows immediately next to or forward of the driver from having less than 50% light transmittance. Operating a vehicle in violation of these standards would be subject to a scheduled fine.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationEstablishes mandatory safety standards for vehicle window tint (70% front windshield, 50% side windows), directly enhancing highway safety visibility per transportation infrastructure regulations.95% confidence

died · Iowa · House Apr 28, 2025

HF 394: A bill for an act relating to certain state highways not designated as part of the interstate road system, including the operation of implements of husbandry on such highways, making appropriations, and including applicability provisions.

HF 394 restricts the Department of Transportation from designating a segment of State Highway 5 and US Highway 65 as an interstate unless federal exemptions for vehicle weight and size are secured. It creates a temporary exception, allowing implements of husbandry to continue operating on a specific portion of this highway if it becomes an interstate, until a suitable alternative route is established. The bill appropriates $250,000 to the Department of Transportation to study and develop this alternative highway route for agricultural vehicles. These provisions directly affect the Department of Transportation's authority over highway designations and agricultural vehicle operators in the specified areas.

Topics ✗ TransportationOpposes TransportationRestricts DOT from designating highways as interstate without federal exemptions, limiting infrastructure expansion and imposing regulatory constraints.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways

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passed · Iowa · House Apr 28, 2025

HF 977: A bill for an act relating to the expansion of the ground emergency medical transportation program.

House File 977 expands the ground emergency medical transportation (GEMT) program. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to employ dedicated staff to increase enrollment of eligible GEMT providers. These staff will offer technical assistance, actuary support, and help with Medicaid enrollment to providers seeking to participate. The department is also directed to develop the program to ensure access to emergency medical services statewide. Additionally, an annual report on the program's status, including enrollment numbers and barriers, must be submitted to the general assembly.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands GEMT program, increases provider enrollment via Medicaid assistance, and ensures statewide emergency medical access.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill expands ground emergency medical transportation program, directly enhancing access to emergency medical services via transportation infrastructure, aligning with transportation policy focus.92% confidence

Tags Public Safety

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Apr 30, 2025

SF 568: A bill for an act relating to certain state highways not designated as part of the interstate road system, including the operation of implements of husbandry on such highways, making appropriations, and including applicability provisions.

SF 568 prevents the Department of Transportation (DOT) from designating a segment of State Highway 5 and US Highway 65 as an interstate road unless the federal government grants an exemption for vehicle weight and size. It allows agricultural implements of husbandry to continue using a specific portion of this highway, if it becomes an interstate, until an alternative route suitable for these vehicles is developed. The bill appropriates $250,000 to the DOT to study and develop this alternative route. This legislation directly affects the DOT, the State Transportation Commission, and agricultural operators using these specific highway segments.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationProtects agricultural vehicle access on highways during interstate designation, maintaining infrastructure usability until alternative routes are developed, aligning with transportation infrastructure protection.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways

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