Read the full stored bill text
STATE OF IOWA
KIM REYNOLDS
GOVERNOR
March 28, 2025
The Honorable Paul Pate
Secretary of State of Iowa
State Capitol
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Dear Mr. Secretary,
I hereby transmit:
House File 181, an Act prohibiting open containers of beverages containing
tetrahydrocannabinol in the passenger area of motor vehicles on highways, and making
penalties applicable.
The above House File is hereby approved on this date.
Sinctrely,
Governor
cc: Secretary of the Senate
Clerk of the House
STATE CAPITOL DES MOINES, IOWA 50319 515.281.5211 FAX 515.725.3527 WWW.GOVERNOR.IOWA.GOV
PBIZ6 AKPXLMS. air.HT
SSJii* <?5>VILLMA1NTAI
GENERAL ASSEMBLYiiHiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiminuiiiHiiiiiHiiuiiiiiiiiiniuiiinuuiimiDiffiniHBiiiinniiiiiiiiniiiiiBinBBinHiiDimiiitnnmiiiiiiniBiiniiiiiiiniuiiniiiuiiiiifHHiiiiigiiiiii
House File 181
AN ACT
PROHIBITING OPEN CONTAINERS OF BEVERAGES CONTAINING
TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL IN THE PASSENGER AREA OF MOTOR VEHICLES
ON HIGHWAYS, AND MAKING PENALTIES APPLICABLE,
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA;
Section 1, Section 321.284, Code 2025, is amended to read
as follows;
321.284 Open containers in motor vehicles — drivers.
1, A driver of person operating a motor vehicle upon a
public street or highway shall not possess in the passenger
area of the motor vehicle an open or unsealed bottle, can.
House File 181f p. 2
jar, or other receptacle containing an alcoholic beverage or
a beverage containing any amount of tetrahydrocannabinol.
^^Passenger area'^ means the area designed to seat the driver and
passengers while the motor vehicle is in operation and any area
that is readily accessible to the driver or a passenger while
in their seating positions, including the glove compartment.
An open or unsealed receptacle containing an alcoholic beverage
or an otherwise lawful beverage containing tetrahydrocannabinol
may be transported in the trunk of the motor vehicle. An
unsealed receptacle containing an alcoholic beverage or an
otherwise lawful beverage containing tetrahydrocannabinol
may be transported behind the last upright seat of the motor
vehicle if the motor vehicle does not have a trunk. A person
convicted of a violation of this section is guilty of a simple
misdemeanor punishable as a scheduled violation under section
805.8A, subsection 14, paragraph
2. A person under the age of twenty-one who violates
possesses an alcoholic beverage in violation of this section is
guilty of a violation of section 123.47.
Sec. 2. Section 321.284A, subsections 1 and 4, Code 2025,
are amended to read as follows:
1. A passenger in a motor vehicle upon a public street
or highway shall not possess in the passenger area of the
motor vehicle an open or unsealed bottle, can, jar, or other
receptacle containing an alcoholic beverage or a beverage
containing any amount of tetrahydrocannabinol. ^Passenger
areameans the area of a motor vehicle designed to seat the
driver and passengers while the motor vehicle is in operation
and any area that is readily accessible to the driver or a
passenger while in their seating positions, including the glove
compartment. An open or unsealed receptacle containing an
alcoholic beverage or an otherwise lawful beverage containing
tetrahydrocannabinol may be transported in the trunk of
the motor vehicle. An unsealed receptacle containing an
alcoholic beverage or an otherwise lawful beverage containing
tetrahydrocannabinol may be transported behind the last upright
seat of the motor vehicle if the motor vehicle does not have a
trunk.
House File 181/ p. 3
4. A person under the age of twenty-one years who violates
possesses an alcoholic beverage in violation of this section is
guilty of a violation of section 123.47.
PAT GRASSLEY
Speaker of ^e House
AMY SINCLAIR
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that this bill originated in the House and
is known as House File 181, Ninety-first General Assembly.
Approved 2025
MEGHAN NELSON
Chief C1 he House
KIM
Governor