Transportation

in committee · Iowa · House Jan 14, 2026

HF 2063: A bill for an act creating a study committee on implementing wildlife crossings at certain highway locations.

HF 2063 directs Iowa's Department of Transportation (DOT) to create a study committee to examine the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of installing wildlife crossings at highway locations with high rates of vehicle-animal collisions. The committee must analyze costs from human injuries, property damage, and potential savings to determine if crossings are viable. The DOT must submit a report to the legislature by January 11, 2027, and the bill expires on July 1, 2027. This is a procedural study bill with no immediate policy changes, solely focused on gathering data for future decisions.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationStudies wildlife crossings to reduce highway collisions, enhancing transportation safety - a proactive step toward infrastructure improvement.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 14, 2026

HF 2070: A bill for an act relating to the Mississippi river parkway commission.

HF 2070 renames the "Mississippi parkway planning commission" to the "Mississippi river parkway commission" (MRPC) and requires its 10 voting members to reside in different counties along Iowa's Mississippi River. It reduces advisory members from seven to four, specifying representatives from transportation, natural resources, economic development, and the state historical society. The bill mandates the MRPC to annually report the economic impact of Iowa's Great River Road - a scenic highway along the Mississippi River - to the governor and legislature by December 15. It also allows the MRPC to create a technical committee including staff from transportation, agriculture, consumer protection, and economic development agencies.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill mandates annual economic impact reports for Iowa's Great River Road highway, promoting infrastructure assessment and potential funding support for transportation infrastructure.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SSB 3052: A bill for an act relating to the operation of driverless-capable vehicles, including associated civil and criminal liability, and making penalties applicable.

This bill allows driverless-capable vehicles to operate on Iowa's public roads without a human driver present, provided they meet safety standards, comply with traffic laws, and have manufacturer certification. It specifically requires a human driver for vehicles transporting hazardous materials, with violations treated as a simple misdemeanor. The bill makes the vehicle owner legally responsible for injuries, property damage, or traffic violations occurring during automated operation, and holds modifiers of the automated system liable unless the owner directed the modification. These changes clarify liability for owners and ensure safety compliance without altering existing federal safety standards.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationEnables driverless vehicles on public roads with safety standards, enhancing road safety and regulatory framework for transportation innovation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Autonomous Vehicles

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 15, 2026

HF 2103: A bill for an act relating to the speed limit on unpaved roads under county jurisdiction, and making penalties applicable.

HF 2103 lowers the maximum speed limit for unpaved secondary roads under county jurisdiction from 55 mph during daylight to 45 mph, regardless of time of day. It directly affects drivers traveling on unpaved county roads and requires county boards of supervisors to update speed limits based on engineering studies. The bill allows counties to temporarily use approved stickers on existing signs instead of replacing all signs immediately when implementing the new speed limit. This change applies only to roads not surfaced with concrete or asphalt, while paved secondary roads retain their current speed limits.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationLowers speed limits on unpaved roads for safety, directly enhancing transportation safety standards per bill summary.92% confidence

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 23, 2026

HSB 598: A bill for an act relating to the operation of driverless-capable vehicles, including associated civil and criminal liability, and making penalties applicable.

HSB 598 allows driverless-capable vehicles to operate on Iowa public roads without a human driver present, provided they meet safety conditions like achieving a "minimal risk condition" during malfunctions, complying with traffic laws, and being certified by the manufacturer. It specifically prohibits driverless operation for vehicles transporting hazardous materials, requiring a human driver in those cases. The bill establishes that the vehicle owner is liable for injuries, property damage, or traffic violations occurring when the automated system is engaged. Modifications to the automated driving system without the manufacturer's consent also create liability, unless the owner directed the change.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyEnables driverless vehicle operation on public roads with safety standards, advancing autonomous vehicle technology adoption without restricting data privacy or cybersecurity.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationEnables driverless vehicle operation with safety standards, advancing transportation innovation and regulatory framework for emerging vehicle technology.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Autonomous Vehicles

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 9, 2026

HSB 560: 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.

This bill creates a special instruction permit pathway for drivers suspended due to medical conditions preventing safe driving. It allows individuals to obtain a permit without a driving test (using a medical report) and pay a fee, staying their license suspension until they qualify for a regular license. Reinstatement fees are waived specifically for suspensions under Section 321.210(1)(a)(3) related to medical incapacity. The bill directly affects Iowans suspended for physical or mental conditions impacting driving safety.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enhances transportation safety by creating medical pathway for license reinstatement, ensuring only capable drivers operate vehicles per safety standards.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licensing

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introduced · Iowa · House Jan 21, 2026

HF 2120: A bill for an act relating to the color of light displayed by headlamps and auxiliary driving lamps, and making penalties applicable.

HF 2120 requires all motor vehicles (except motorcycles, motorized bicycles, and ATVs) to use only white light for headlamps and auxiliary driving lamps. It prohibits non-white colors on these specific lights, applying to vehicle owners and manufacturers who install such lamps. Violations are classified as a minor offense with a $45 fine. The bill does not affect color requirements for signal lamps like turn signals or brake lights. This is a straightforward safety regulation focusing solely on lamp color standards.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill mandates white headlamp colors for safety, directly enhancing vehicle regulation standards under transportation safety policies.95% confidence

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 16, 2026

HF 2023: A bill for an act relating to speed limits, including the speed limit in school districts and the penalty for speeding in excess of twenty miles per hour over the limit.

HF 2023 lowers the speed limit in school districts from 25 to 20 miles per hour and increases penalties for speeding over 20 mph above the limit. The bill raises the base fine for such speeding from $135 to $285, plus $5 for each additional mile per hour over the limit. It also allows counties or cities to temporarily update speed limit signs using approved overlays or stickers while replacing physical signs according to their schedules. This affects drivers in school zones, local governments responsible for signage, and law enforcement enforcing traffic laws. The changes apply to school districts defined as areas within 200 feet of a schoolhouse.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationLowers school zone speed limits and increases penalties to enhance road safety, directly aligning with transportation safety indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Traffic Safety

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died · Iowa · House Mar 2, 2026

HF 2228: A bill for an act relating to the installation of transmission lines on highway rights-of-way.

HF 2228 requires Iowa's Department of Transportation (DOT) to coordinate with utility companies upon written request for potential transmission line placements on highway corridors. It mandates the DOT assign a project coordinator within 30 days and share highway project plans that could impact transmission line siting. The bill allows longitudinal transmission lines on primary roads (including interstates) with DOT approval, unless safety or highway function is endangered, and requires the DOT to publicly justify denials within 90 days. This directly affects utility companies seeking to install transmission lines along highways and the DOT's approval process. The bill updates existing coordination requirements to be more structured and responsive.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill mandates DOT coordination for transmission lines on highways, requiring safety reviews and highway function protection, thus supporting transportation infrastructure management.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways

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died · Iowa · House May 2, 2026

HF 2071: A bill for an act modifying the sales or use tax refund for biodiesel production.

HF 2071 increases Iowa's tax refund for biodiesel producers from 4 cents to 5 cents per gallon. The refund amount is calculated by multiplying this new rate by the total gallons of biodiesel produced quarterly within the state. The bill also extends the program's expiration date from January 1, 2028, to January 1, 2031. This directly affects Iowa-based biodiesel producers by increasing their quarterly tax refund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases tax refund rate for biodiesel producers (4¢→5¢/gal) and extends program, providing targeted tax relief and strengthening biofuel industry incentives within tax policy.90% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyIncreases tax refund for biodiesel producers, directly funding renewable energy production and extending incentives through 2031.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentIncreases tax refund for biodiesel producers, promoting renewable energy use and reducing fossil fuel dependence through financial incentives.92% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill increases tax refund for biodiesel producers, promoting sustainable transportation fuel use and supporting alternative energy in vehicle fuels.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax

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