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HF545 • 2026

A bill for an act providing for the regulation of delivery network companies and drivers, making penalties applicable, and including effective date provisions.(Formerly HF 7 .)

A bill for an act providing for the regulation of delivery network companies and drivers, making penalties applicable, and including effective date provisions.(Formerly HF 7 .)

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE
Last action
2025-04-03
Official status
Referred to Commerce. H.J. 895 .
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

A bill for an act providing for the regulation of delivery network companies and drivers, making penalties applicable, and including effective date provisions.(Formerly HF 7 .)

A bill for an act providing for the regulation of delivery network companies and drivers, making penalties applicable, and including effective date provisions.(Formerly HF 7 .)

What This Bill Does

  • A bill for an act providing for the regulation of delivery network companies and drivers, making penalties applicable, and including effective date provisions.(Formerly HF 7 .)

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2025-04-03 Iowa Legislature

    Referred to Commerce. H.J. 895 .

  2. 2025-03-19 Iowa Legislature

    Amendment H-1136 filed. H.J. 752 .

  3. 2025-03-14 Iowa Legislature

    Amendment H-1090 filed. H.J. 660 .

  4. 2025-02-20 Iowa Legislature

    Introduced, placed on calendar. H.J. 400 .

Official Summary Text

A bill for an act providing for the regulation of delivery network companies and drivers, making penalties applicable, and including effective date provisions.(Formerly HF 7 .)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
House

File

545

-

Introduced

HOUSE

FILE

545

BY

COMMITTEE

ON

COMMERCE

(SUCCESSOR

TO

HF

7)

A

BILL

FOR

An

Act

providing

for

the

regulation

of

delivery

network

1

companies

and

drivers,

making

penalties

applicable,

and

2

including

effective

date

provisions.

3

BE

IT

ENACTED

BY

THE

GENERAL

ASSEMBLY

OF

THE

STATE

OF

IOWA:

4

TLSB

1352HV

(2)

91

th/ns

H.F.

545

Section

1.

Section

321.518,

Code

2025,

is

amended

to

read

1

as

follows:

2

321.518

On-demand

driverless-capable

vehicle

network.

3

A

person

may

operate

an

on-demand

driverless-capable

4

vehicle

network.

An

on-demand

driverless-capable

vehicle

5

network

may

be

used

to

facilitate

the

transportation

of

persons

6

or

goods,

including

transportation

for

hire

as

defined

in

7

section

325A.1

,

and

public

transportation.

An

on-demand

8

driverless-capable

vehicle

network

may

connect

passengers

9

persons

to

driverless-capable

vehicles

either

exclusively

or

as

10

part

of

a

digital

network

that

also

connects

passengers

persons

11

to

conventional

human

drivers

who

provide

transportation

or

12

delivery

services,

consistent

with

chapter

321N

or

321Q,

13

or

any

other

applicable

laws,

in

vehicles

that

are

not

14

driverless-capable

vehicles.

15

Sec.

2.

NEW

SECTION

.

321Q.1

Definitions.

16

As

used

in

this

chapter:

17

1.

“Delivery

network

company”

or

“company”

means

a

18

corporation,

partnership,

sole

proprietorship,

or

other

entity

19

that

operates

in

this

state

and

uses

a

digital

network

to

20

connect

a

delivery

network

company

customer

to

a

delivery

21

network

driver

to

provide

delivery

services.

“Delivery

network

22

company”

does

not

include

an

entity

engaged

in

the

delivery

of

23

the

entity’s

products

by

the

entity’s

employees.

24

2.

“Delivery

network

company

customer”

or

“customer”

means

a

25

person

who

uses

a

delivery

network

company’s

digital

network

to

26

request

the

delivery

of

goods.

27

3.

“Delivery

network

driver”

or

“driver”

means

an

individual

28

who

does

all

of

the

following:

29

a.

Receives

delivery

service

requests

from

a

delivery

30

network

company’s

digital

network.

31

b.

Uses

a

personal

vehicle

to

provide

delivery

services.

32

4.

“Delivery

service”

means

the

fulfillment

of

a

delivery

33

request

by

a

driver

to

a

customer

during

the

delivery

service

34

period.

“Delivery

service”

includes

a

series

of

deliveries

made

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by

a

driver

to

different

customers.

1

5.

“Delivery

service

period”

means

the

period

between

a

2

driver

accepting

a

request

to

deliver

goods

and

the

delivery

3

of

such

goods.

“Delivery

service

period”

begins

when

a

driver

4

starts

operating

a

personal

vehicle

en

route

to

pick

up

goods

5

for

a

delivery

or

series

of

deliveries

as

documented

by

the

6

digital

network

controlled

by

a

delivery

network

company.

7

“Delivery

service

period”

includes

the

period

during

which

the

8

driver

transports

the

requested

goods

for

delivery,

and

ends

9

upon

delivery

of

the

requested

goods

to

any

of

the

following:

10

a.

The

customer

or

the

last

customer

in

a

series

of

11

deliveries.

12

b.

A

location

designated

by

the

delivery

network

company,

13

including

for

purposes

of

returning

the

goods.

14

6.

“Digital

network”

means

an

online-enabled

application,

15

internet

site,

or

system

offered

or

utilized

by

a

delivery

16

network

company

that

enables

delivery

services.

17

7.

“Financial

liability

coverage”

means

the

same

as

defined

18

in

section

321.1,

subsection

24B.

19

8.

“Personal

vehicle”

means

a

noncommercial

motor

vehicle

20

that

is

used

by

a

delivery

network

driver

and

is

owned,

leased,

21

or

otherwise

authorized

for

use

by

the

delivery

network

driver.

22

“Personal

vehicle”

does

not

include

a

taxicab,

limousine,

or

23

other

vehicle

for

hire.

24

Sec.

3.

NEW

SECTION

.

321Q.2

Interaction

with

other

law.

25

Nothing

in

this

chapter

limits

the

scope

of

federal

or

state

26

law

regarding

delivery

or

transport

of

goods.

Deliveries

made

27

under

this

chapter

that

are

subject

to

such

other

law

must

also

28

comply

with

the

requirements

of

that

law.

In

the

event

of

a

29

conflict

between

this

chapter

and

another

law

dealing

with

the

30

delivery

or

transport

of

goods,

the

other

law

prevails.

31

Sec.

4.

NEW

SECTION

.

321Q.3

Financial

responsibility.

32

1.

A

delivery

network

driver,

or

a

delivery

network

company

33

on

the

driver’s

behalf,

shall

maintain

financial

liability

34

coverage

that

does

all

of

the

following:

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a.

Recognizes

that

the

driver

is

a

delivery

network

driver

1

or

that

the

driver

otherwise

uses

a

personal

motor

vehicle

to

2

deliver

goods.

3

b.

Covers

the

driver

during

the

delivery

service

period.

4

c.

Covers

the

driver

in

the

amounts

set

forth

in

subsection

5

2.

6

2.

a.

During

the

delivery

service

period,

financial

7

liability

coverage

shall

cover

the

driver

in

the

amount

of

at

8

least

fifty

thousand

dollars

for

damages

arising

out

of

bodily

9

injury

to

or

death

of

any

one

person

in

a

crash

or

collision,

at

10

least

one

hundred

thousand

dollars

for

damages

arising

out

of

11

bodily

injury

to

or

death

of

two

or

more

persons

in

a

crash

or

12

collision,

and

at

least

twenty-five

thousand

dollars

for

all

13

damages

arising

out

of

damage

to

or

destruction

of

property

in

14

a

crash

or

collision.

15

b.

The

requirements

of

paragraph

“a”

shall

be

in

addition

to

16

the

automobile

insurance

requirements

set

forth

in

chapter

516A

17

or

any

other

provision

of

law.

18

c.

The

requirements

of

paragraph

“a”

may

be

satisfied

by

any

19

of

the

following:

20

(1)

Insurance

maintained

by

the

delivery

network

driver.

21

(2)

Insurance

maintained

by

the

delivery

network

company.

22

(3)

A

combination

of

subparagraphs

(1)

and

(2).

23

3.

If

the

financial

liability

coverage

maintained

by

a

24

delivery

network

driver

under

this

chapter

lapses

or

does

25

not

provide

coverage

in

the

amounts

required

by

subsection

26

2,

insurance

maintained

by

a

delivery

network

company

shall

27

provide

the

financial

liability

coverage

required

by

subsection

28

2

beginning

with

the

first

dollar

of

a

claim

and

the

company

29

shall

have

the

duty

to

defend

the

claim.

30

4.

Coverage

under

an

automobile

insurance

policy

maintained

31

by

a

delivery

network

company

under

this

chapter

shall

not

be

32

dependent

on

the

insurer

of

a

driver’s

personal

vehicle

first

33

denying

a

claim,

nor

shall

a

personal

automobile

insurance

34

policy

be

required

to

first

deny

a

claim.

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5.

Insurance

maintained

under

this

chapter

shall

be

1

provided

by

an

insurer

governed

by

chapter

515,

or

by

a

surplus

2

lines

insurer

governed

by

chapter

515I.

3

6.

Insurance

maintained

under

this

chapter

shall

be

deemed

4

to

satisfy

the

financial

responsibility

requirements

for

a

5

motor

vehicle

under

chapter

321A.

6

7.

A

delivery

network

driver

shall

carry

proof

of

financial

7

liability

coverage,

as

required

by

section

321.20B,

in

the

8

amounts

required

by

subsection

2,

at

all

times

while

using

a

9

personal

vehicle

in

connection

with

a

digital

network.

In

the

10

event

of

a

crash

or

collision,

the

driver

shall

provide

proof

11

of

financial

liability

coverage

to

any

directly

interested

12

party

or

insurer,

and

to

any

investigating

law

enforcement

13

officer,

upon

request

and

in

a

format

provided

for

under

14

section

321.20B.

Upon

such

a

request,

the

driver

shall

also

15

disclose

to

any

directly

interested

party

or

insurer,

and

to

16

any

investigating

law

enforcement

officer,

whether

the

driver

17

was

operating

during

the

delivery

service

period

providing

18

delivery

services

at

the

time

of

the

crash

or

collision.

A

19

delivery

network

driver

who

fails

to

carry

proof

of

financial

20

liability

coverage

is

subject

to

section

321.20B.

21

Sec.

5.

NEW

SECTION

.

321Q.4

Disclosure

requirements.

22

A

delivery

network

company

shall

disclose

all

of

the

23

following

to

a

delivery

network

driver

in

writing

before

the

24

driver

may

accept

a

request

from

a

customer

for

delivery

25

services

on

the

delivery

network

company’s

digital

network:

26

1.

The

types,

amounts,

terms,

and

limits

of

automobile

27

insurance

provided

by

the

company

to

the

driver

while

the

28

driver

uses

a

personal

vehicle

in

connection

with

the

use

of

29

the

company’s

digital

network.

30

2.

That

the

driver’s

own

automobile

insurance

policy,

31

depending

on

the

policy’s

terms,

may

not

provide

any

coverage

32

during

the

delivery

service

period.

33

Sec.

6.

NEW

SECTION

.

321Q.5

Insurers.

34

1.

a.

Notwithstanding

any

other

provision

of

law

to

the

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contrary,

an

insurer

that

writes

automobile

insurance

within

1

this

state

may

exclude

any

and

all

coverage

afforded

to

an

2

insured

person

under

a

policy

issued

to

the

owner

or

operator

3

of

a

personal

vehicle

for

any

injury

or

loss

that

occurs

while

4

the

insured

is

logged

on

to

a

delivery

network

company’s

5

digital

network

during

the

delivery

service

period.

This

6

right

to

exclude

coverage

may

apply

to

any

type

of

coverage

7

provided

for

in

the

insured’s

policy,

including

but

not

limited

8

to

liability

coverage

for

bodily

injury,

death,

and

property

9

damage,

personal

injury

protection

coverage,

uninsured

and

10

underinsured

motorist

coverage,

medical

payments

coverage,

11

comprehensive

physical

damage

coverage,

and

collision

physical

12

damage

coverage.

13

b.

This

chapter

shall

not

be

construed

to

require

an

14

insurer

to

provide

coverage

to

an

individual

during

the

15

delivery

service

period

or

while

otherwise

delivering

goods

for

16

compensation.

17

c.

This

chapter

shall

not

be

construed

to

preclude

an

18

insurer

from

providing

coverage

for

a

delivery

network

driver’s

19

personal

vehicle,

if

the

insurer

chooses

to

do

so

by

contract

20

or

endorsement.

21

2.

a.

An

insurer

that

excludes

coverage

pursuant

to

22

subsection

1

shall

not

have

a

duty

to

defend

or

indemnify

a

23

claim

expressly

excluded

from

a

policy

issued

by

the

insurer.

24

This

chapter

shall

not

be

deemed

to

invalidate

or

limit

an

25

exclusion

contained

in

a

policy,

including

a

policy

in

use

or

26

approved

for

use

in

this

state

prior

to

the

effective

date

of

27

this

Act,

that

excludes

coverage

for

vehicles

used

for

delivery

28

service.

29

b.

An

insurer

that

defends

or

indemnifies

a

claim

against

30

an

insured

delivery

network

driver

that

is

excluded

under

the

31

terms

of

the

driver’s

policy

shall

have

a

right

of

action

32

for

contribution

or

indemnity

against

an

insurer

providing

33

automobile

insurance

to

the

driver

under

this

chapter

during

34

the

period

in

which

the

loss

occurred.

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3.

The

insurer

or

insurers

of

a

delivery

network

company

1

providing

coverage

under

section

321Q.3,

subsection

2,

shall

2

assume

primary

liability

for

a

claim

when

a

dispute

exists

as

3

to

when

the

delivery

service

period

began

or

ended,

and

when

4

the

delivery

network

company

does

not

have

available,

did

not

5

retain,

or

fails

to

provide

the

information

required

by

section

6

321Q.3,

subsection

7.

7

4.

In

a

claims

coverage

investigation,

any

involved

8

delivery

network

company

and

any

insurer

providing

coverage

9

pursuant

to

this

chapter

shall

cooperate

to

facilitate

the

10

exchange

of

relevant

information

with

one

another,

and

with

11

any

insurer

of

the

delivery

network

driver,

where

applicable,

12

including

but

not

limited

to

the

precise

times

during

which

13

the

driver

began

and

ended

the

delivery

services

period

on

the

14

delivery

network

company’s

digital

network

in

the

twelve-hour

15

period

immediately

preceding

the

crash

or

collision

and

16

in

the

twelve-hour

period

immediately

following

the

crash

17

or

collision,

and

shall

disclose

to

one

another

a

clear

18

description

of

any

relevant

automobile

insurance

provided

19

pursuant

to

this

chapter,

including

any

applicable

limits

and

20

exclusions.

21

Sec.

7.

NEW

SECTION

.

321Q.6

Company-driver

relationship.

22

1.

A

delivery

network

company

is

not

deemed

to

control,

23

direct,

or

manage

a

delivery

network

driver

that

connects

24

to

the

company’s

digital

network,

or

the

driver’s

personal

25

vehicle,

except

as

agreed

to

by

the

company

and

the

driver

26

pursuant

to

a

written

contract.

27

2.

A

delivery

network

driver

shall

be

considered

an

28

independent

contractor

and

shall

not

be

considered

an

agent

or

29

employee

of

a

delivery

network

company.

30

Sec.

8.

Section

325A.1,

subsections

7,

12,

and

15,

Code

31

2025,

are

amended

to

read

as

follows:

32

7.

“Motor

carrier”

means

a

person

defined

in

subsection

9,

33

10,

11,

or

12

,

but

does

not

include

a

transportation

network

34

company

or

a

transportation

network

company

driver,

as

defined

35

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545

in

section

321N.1

,

or

delivery

network

company

or

delivery

1

network

driver,

as

defined

in

section

321Q.1

.

2

12.

“Motor

carrier

of

property”

means

a

person

engaged

in

3

the

transportation,

for

hire,

of

property

by

motor

vehicle

4

including

a

carrier

transporting

liquid

commodities

or

5

compressed

gases

in

a

vehicle

having

a

total

cargo

tank

shell

6

capacity

of

two

thousand

gallons

or

less

,

other

than

a

delivery

7

network

company

or

delivery

network

driver,

as

defined

in

8

section

321Q.1

.

9

15.

“Private

carrier”

means

a

person

who

provides

10

transportation

of

property

or

passengers

by

motor

vehicle

or

11

who

transports

commodities

of

which

the

person

is

the

owner,

12

lessee,

or

bailee

and

the

transportation

is

a

furtherance

of

13

the

person’s

primary

business

or

occupation,

but

is

not

a

14

for-hire

motor

carrier

,

or

a

transportation

network

company

or

15

a

transportation

network

company

driver,

as

defined

in

section

16

321N.1

,

or

a

delivery

network

company

or

delivery

network

17

driver,

as

defined

in

section

321Q.1

.

18

Sec.

9.

Section

325A.1,

subsection

10,

unnumbered

paragraph

19

1,

Code

2025,

is

amended

to

read

as

follows:

20

“Motor

carrier

of

household

goods”

means

a

person

engaged

in

21

the

transportation,

for

hire,

of

personal

effects

and

property

22

used

or

to

be

used

in

a

dwelling,

and

includes

other

than

a

23

delivery

network

company

or

delivery

network

driver,

as

defined

24

in

section

321Q.1,

including

all

of

the

following:

25

Sec.

10.

Section

327D.1,

Code

2025,

is

amended

to

read

as

26

follows:

27

327D.1

Applicability

of

chapter.

28

This

chapter

applies

to

intrastate

transportation

by

29

for-hire

common

carriers

of

persons

and

property.

However,

30

this

chapter

does

not

apply

to

regular

route

motor

carriers

31

of

passengers

or

charter

carriers,

as

defined

under

32

section

325A.12

,

or

a

transportation

network

company

or

a

33

transportation

network

company

driver,

as

defined

in

section

34

321N.1

,

or

delivery

network

company

or

a

delivery

network

35

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LSB

1352HV

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10

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545

driver,

as

defined

in

section

321Q.1

.

1

Sec.

11.

EFFECTIVE

DATE.

This

Act

takes

effect

July

1,

2

2026.

3

EXPLANATION

4

The

inclusion

of

this

explanation

does

not

constitute

agreement

with

5

the

explanation’s

substance

by

the

members

of

the

general

assembly.

6

This

bill

provides

for

the

regulation

of

delivery

network

7

companies

(DNCs)

and

delivery

network

drivers

(drivers).

A

8

DNC

is

an

entity

that

uses

a

digital

network

to

connect

DNC

9

customers

to

drivers

who

provide

delivery

services.

10

During

the

delivery

service

periods,

the

bill

requires

11

financial

liability

coverage

to

cover

the

driver

in

the

amount

12

of

at

least

$50,000

for

bodily

injury

to

or

death

of

one

person

13

in

any

one

crash

or

collision,

$100,000

for

bodily

injury

to

or

14

death

of

two

or

more

persons

in

any

one

crash

or

collision,

and

15

$25,000

for

injury

to

or

destruction

of

property

of

others

in

16

any

one

crash

or

collision.

The

insurance

required

by

the

bill

17

may

be

maintained

by

the

driver,

the

DNC,

or

both.

18

Under

the

bill,

if

the

financial

liability

coverage

19

maintained

by

a

driver

lapses

or

does

not

provide

coverage

in

20

the

amounts

required

by

the

bill,

insurance

maintained

by

a

21

DNC

must

provide

the

coverage

beginning

with

the

first

dollar

22

of

a

claim,

and

the

DNC

is

required

to

defend

the

claim.

In

23

addition,

insurance

maintained

by

a

DNC

is

prohibited

from

24

being

dependent

on

the

insurer

of

a

driver’s

personal

vehicle

25

first

denying

a

claim.

26

The

financial

liability

coverage

required

by

the

bill

must

27

be

provided

by

an

insurer

governed

by

Code

chapter

515,

or

by

a

28

surplus

lines

insurer

governed

by

Code

chapter

515I.

29

The

bill

requires

a

driver

to

carry

proof

of

financial

30

liability

coverage

at

all

times

during

which

the

driver

uses

a

31

vehicle

in

connection

with

the

use

of

a

DNC’s

digital

network.

32

In

the

event

of

a

crash

or

collision,

the

driver

must

provide

33

the

proof

of

financial

liability

coverage,

upon

request,

to

any

34

directly

interested

party

or

insurer,

and

to

any

investigating

35

-8-

LSB

1352HV

(2)

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10

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545

police

officer.

1

The

bill

requires

a

DNC

to

disclose

to

a

driver

in

writing

2

the

types,

amounts,

terms,

and

limits

of

financial

liability

3

coverage

provided

by

the

DNC

to

the

driver

while

the

driver

4

uses

a

personal

vehicle

in

connection

with

the

use

of

the

DNC’s

5

digital

network,

and

the

fact

that

the

driver’s

own

financial

6

liability

coverage

may

not

provide

coverage

during

the

delivery

7

service

period.

8

The

bill

provides

that

an

insurer

may

exclude

coverage

9

afforded

to

an

insured

person

under

a

policy

issued

to

the

10

owner

or

operator

of

a

personal

vehicle

for

any

injury

or

loss

11

that

occurs

while

the

insured

is

logged

on

to

a

DNC’s

digital

12

network

during

the

delivery

service

period.

An

insurer

that

13

excludes

coverage

in

this

way

does

not

have

a

duty

to

defend

14

or

indemnify

a

claim

so

excluded

from

a

policy

issued

by

15

the

insurer.

An

insurer

that

defends

or

indemnifies

a

claim

16

against

an

insured

driver

that

is

excluded

under

the

terms

of

17

the

driver’s

policy

has

a

right

of

action

for

contribution

or

18

indemnity

against

an

insurer

providing

financial

liability

19

coverage

to

the

driver

during

the

period

in

which

the

loss

20

occurred.

21

In

addition,

the

bill

provides

that

in

a

claims

coverage

22

investigation,

any

involved

DNC

and

any

insurer

potentially

23

providing

coverage

must

cooperate

to

facilitate

the

exchange

24

of

relevant

information

with

parties

directly

involved

in

the

25

claim.

26

The

bill

provides

that

a

DNC

is

not

deemed

to

control,

27

direct,

or

manage

a

driver

that

connects

to

the

DNC’s

digital

28

network,

or

the

driver’s

personal

vehicle,

except

as

agreed

to

29

by

the

DNC

and

the

driver

pursuant

to

a

written

contract,

and

30

that

a

driver

is

an

independent

contractor,

not

an

agent

or

31

employee

of

a

DNC.

32

The

bill

exempts

drivers

from

Code

chapters

325A

(motor

33

carrier

authority)

and

327D

(regulation

of

carriers).

34

Under

current

law,

a

person

who

violates

provisions

relating

35

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(2)

91

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10

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545

to

proof

of

financial

liability

coverage

(Code

section

1

321.20B),

including

a

driver

under

the

bill,

is

subject

to

a

2

scheduled

fine

of

$325,

or

$645

if

the

person

was

involved

in

3

an

accident,

among

other

consequences.

There

are

no

penalties

4

set

forth

in

the

bill

for

DNCs

that

violate

the

provisions

of

5

the

bill.

6

Code

chapter

321N

regulates

transportation

network

companies

7

and

restricts

certain

persons

from

being

eligible

to

operate

8

as

a

transportation

network

company

driver.

A

driver

is

not

9

subject

to

the

same

exclusions

while

performing

delivery

10

services.

11

The

bill

takes

effect

July

1,

2026.

12

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(2)

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10