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SF2187 • 2026

A bill for an act relating to the verification of citizenship and immigration status of persons who apply for or renew a driver’s license or nonoperator’s identification card, and including applicability provisions. (Formerly SSB 3024 .) Effective date: 07/01/2026. Applicability date: Conditional.

A bill for an act relating to the verification of citizenship and immigration status of persons who apply for or renew a driver’s license or nonoperator’s identification card, and including applicability provisions. (Formerly SSB 3024 .) Effective date: 07/01/2026. Applicability date: Conditional.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Last action
2026-05-15
Official status
Signed by Governor .
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about what happens if an applicant cannot prove citizenship but can prove legal immigration status.

Driver's License and ID Card Citizenship Verification

This law requires people applying for or renewing a driver’s license or nonoperator’s identification card in Iowa to prove their U.S. citizenship or legal immigration status.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Department of Transportation to use the SAVE program, or any successor federal verification system, to check if applicants are U.S. citizens and have lawful presence in the United States.
  • Does not issue or renew a driver's license or nonoperator’s ID card if an applicant cannot prove they are a U.S. citizen and their status is not verified as lawfully present in the United States.
  • Defines 'SAVE program' as the federal system used to verify alien verification for entitlements.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People applying for a driver’s license in Iowa
  • Individuals renewing their nonoperator’s identification card in Iowa

Terms To Know

SAVE program
The systematic alien verification for entitlements system of the United States Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The exact date the new rules will take effect depends on when the Department of Transportation's records system is ready.
  • It does not specify what happens if an applicant cannot provide proof of citizenship but can prove legal immigration status.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-15 Iowa Legislature

    Signed by Governor .

  2. 2026-05-11 Iowa Legislature

    Reported correctly enrolled, signed by President and Speaker, and sent to Governor.

  3. 2026-05-02 Iowa Legislature

    Explanation of vote. H.J. 1158 .

  4. 2026-04-21 Iowa Legislature

    Message from Senate. H.J. 955 .

  5. 2026-04-21 Iowa Legislature

    Immediate message. S.J. 851 .

  6. 2026-04-21 Iowa Legislature

    Passed Senate , yeas 38, nays 7. S.J. 850 .

  7. 2026-04-21 Iowa Legislature

    Senate concurred with S-5186 . S.J. 849 .

  8. 2026-04-16 Iowa Legislature

    Message from House, with amendment S-5186 . S.J. 813 .

  9. 2026-04-15 Iowa Legislature

    Immediate message. H.J. 917 .

  10. 2026-04-15 Iowa Legislature

    Passed House , yeas 87, nays 8. H.J. 907 .

  11. 2026-04-15 Iowa Legislature

    Amendment H-8294 withdrawn. H.J. 906 .

  12. 2026-04-15 Iowa Legislature

    Amendment H-8230 adopted. H.J. 906 .

  13. 2026-04-06 Iowa Legislature

    Amendment H-8294 filed. H.J. 821 .

  14. 2026-03-26 Iowa Legislature

    Placed on calendar under unfinished business. H.J. 760 .

  15. 2026-03-18 Iowa Legislature

    Placed on calendar. H.J. 687 .

  16. 2026-03-18 Iowa Legislature

    Committee amendment H-8230 filed. H.J. 687 .

  17. 2026-03-18 Iowa Legislature

    Committee vote: Yeas, 18. Nays, 0. Excused, 3. H.J. 687 .

  18. 2026-03-18 Iowa Legislature

    Committee report, recommending amendment and passage. H.J. 687 .

  19. 2026-03-04 Iowa Legislature

    Subcommittee recommends amendment and passage.

  20. 2026-03-03 Iowa Legislature

    Subcommittee Meeting: 03/04/2026 8:45AM House Lounge.

  21. 2026-03-03 Iowa Legislature

    Subcommittee: Golding, Cooling and Meyer, A. H.J. 525 .

  22. 2026-02-25 Iowa Legislature

    Read first time, referred to Transportation. H.J. 433 .

  23. 2026-02-25 Iowa Legislature

    Message from Senate. H.J. 418 .

  24. 2026-02-25 Iowa Legislature

    Immediate message. S.J. 399 .

  25. 2026-02-25 Iowa Legislature

    Passed Senate , yeas 42, nays 5. S.J. 398 .

  26. 2026-02-04 Iowa Legislature

    Committee report, approving bill. S.J. 204 .

  27. 2026-02-04 Iowa Legislature

    Introduced, placed on calendar. S.J. 196 .

Official Summary Text

A bill for an act relating to the verification of citizenship and immigration status of persons who apply for or renew a driver’s license or nonoperator’s identification card, and including applicability provisions. (Formerly SSB 3024 .) Effective date: 07/01/2026. Applicability date: Conditional.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
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STATE OF IOWA
KIM REYNOLDS
GOVERNOR
May 15,2026
The Honorable Paul Pate
Secretary of State of Iowa
State Capitol
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Dear Mr. Secretary,
I hereby transmit:
Senate File 2187, an Act relating to the verification of citizenship and immigration status
of persons who apply for or renew a driver’s license or nonoperator’s identification card,
and including applicability provisions.
The above Senate File is hereby approved on this date.
Since»Iy, __
Kim Reynolds
Governor of Iowa
cc: Secretary of the Senate
Clerk of the House
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Senate File 2187
AN ACT
RELATING TO THE VERIFICATION OF CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION
STATUS OF PERSONS WHO APPLY FOR OR RENEW A DRIVER'S LICENSE
OR NONOPERATOR'S IDENTIFICATION CARD, AND INCLUDING
APPLICABILITY PROVISIONS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
Section 1. NEW SECTION . 321.183A Citizenship and
immigration status verification.
1. The department shall use the SAVE program, or any
successor federal verification system, to verify the United
States citizenship and immigration status of each person who
applies for issuance or renewal of a driver's license or
nonoperator's identification card and who does not provide
proof that the person is a United States citizen. The
department shall not issue or renew a driver's license or
nonoperator's identification card if the person does not
provide proof the person is a United States citizen and the
department is unable to verify the person's status as lawfully
present in the United States.
2. For purposes of this section, "SAVE program" means the
systematic alien verification for entitlements system of the
United States department of homeland security and the United
States citizenship and immigration services.
Sec. 2. APPLICABILITY. This Act applies on and after March
1, 2027, or the date the department of transportation submits
to the Iowa administrative code editor for publication in the
Senate File 2187, p. 2
Iowa administrative bulletin a statement by the director of
transportation that the applicable phase of the department of
transportation's new records system is implemented, whichever
is earlier. The department shall also forward a copy of the
statement to the Iowa Code editor.
_
AMY SIKJÇLAIR PAT GRASSLEY/
President of the Senate Speaker of rhe House
I hereby certify that this bill originated in the Senate and
is known as Senate File 2187,
Approved , 2026
Ninety-first General Assembly.
UZ'
W. CHARLES SMITHSON
Secretly of^tebe Senate
KIM REINOLDS ( 1
Governor