Iowa’s hands-free driving bill advanced in the Senate on Tuesday, nearing a House vote that could happen Monday.
DES MOINES, Iowa — 30 states in the U.S. have passed some sort of hands-free driving law, but Iowa is not yet one of them.
However, state lawmakers are one step away from issuing fines to people texting and driving after the Senate advanced its bill on Tuesday, now leaving it up to the House’s vote that could come as soon as Monday.
The House had planned to debate House File 827 on Thursday, but pulled it from the debate calendar.
HF 827 bans drivers from using their phone while driving, unless its in a “hands-free” mode. That means people would be limited to a single touch or have to use “verbal commands” to turn that device on or off, or to complete “a function” like calling someone.
You would only be able to fully use your phone while at a complete stop – like during a red light.
Exceptions to the “hands-free” policy would be granted to public safety officials, health care workers responding to an emergency, and “a person operating an implement of husbandry.”
An implement of husbandry is defined by Iowa Legislature as “a vehicle or special mobile equipment manufactured, designed, or reconstructed for agricultural purposes and, except for incidental uses, exclusively used in the conduct of agricultural operations.”
House party leaders were asked about their caucus’ pulse on the bill on Thursday.
“We have enough members now that have pushed leadership in a position to, ‘we need to have this full discussion,'” said Speaker of the House Pat Grassley (R-New Hartford). “As I have talked about before, when the caucus is in support of something, we at least want to have that discussion.”
Rep. Jennifer Konfrst (D-Polk) said, “[It’s] critically important to make sure that people who are working on the side of the road are safe. Bicyclists, other passengers, it is a common sense move to ensure safety on the roads. And I don’t know why it’s taken House Republicans to get here, but I am hopeful we can get there.”
The bill was introduced last year but never made it out of the House. This time around, Gov. Kim Reynolds’ has supported the legislation, which was spearheaded by Iowa Bicycle Coalition’s Luke Hoffman.
“I don’t think there is a more significant bill this session that is going to save lives,” he said. “I’m carrying with me the voices and stories of all the people that I know that have been impacted so much more than I ever have been. And I hope no one has to be [impacted] for us to realize as a state that this is something that needs to change.”
If Reynolds eventually signed the bill into law, starting on July 1, drivers would be issued warnings for violating the policy – for the first six months. After that, law enforcement would begin issuing $100 fines.
