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STATE OF IOWA
KIWI REYNOLDS
G OVERNOR
April 2, 2025
The Honorable Paul Pate
Secretary of State of Iowa
State Capitol
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Dear Mr. Secretary,
I hereby transmit:
Senate File 22, an Act relating to the use of an electronic device in a voice- activated or
hands- free mode while driving, providing penalties, and making penalties applicable.
The above Senate File is hereby approved on this date.
Sincerely,
Kim Reynolds
Governor of Iowa
0a us
cc: Secretary of the Senate
Clerk of the House
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Senate File 22
AN ACT
RELATING TO THE USE OF AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE IN A VOICE- ACTIVATED
OR HANDS- FREE MODE WHILE DRIVING, PROVIDING PENALTIES, AND
MAKING PENALTIES APPLICABLE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
Section 1. Section 321.178, subsection 2, paragraph
a, subparagraph ( 2), Code 2025, is amended by striking the
subparagraph.
Sec. 2. Section 321.178, subsection 2, paragraphs b and c,
Code 2025, are amended to read as follows:
b,
i93ucd under this subseet'
ev - i - d - e - i3 - e•e -- that - the Trcezrs - cc - x - rc•9
impoacd under paragraph " a - , subparagraph ( 2), subparagraph
division ( a). The department may also suspend a restricted
work license issued under this subsection upon receiving a
record of the person's conviction for one violation and shall
revoke the license upon receiving a record of conviction
for two or more violations of a law of this state or a city
ordinance regulating the operation of motor vehicles on
highways, other than parking violations as described in section
321.210. After revoking a restricted work license under this
paragraph, the department shall not grant an application for a
new driver's license or instruction permit until the expiration
Senate File 22, p. 2
of one year or until the person attains the age of eighteen,
whichever is the longer period.
c. A person who violatc3 the restrictions imposed under
paragraph - a - , subparagraph ( 2), subparagraph division ( a),
may be i33ucd a citation under thi3 section and shall not be
i33ued a citation under section 321.193. A violation of the
rc3triction3 impo3cd under paragraph - a - , subparagraph ( 2),
subparagraph division ( a), Shall not be con3idcrcd a moving
violation.
Sec. 3. Section 321.180B, subsection 3, paragraph b, Code
2025, is amended to read as follows:
b. The department may suspend an instruction permit,
intermediate license, or full license issued under this section
upon receiving satisfactory evidence that the person issued
the instruction permit, intermediate license, or full license
violated the restrictions imposed under subsection l- or 2, or
6 during the term of the instruction permit or intermediate
license.
Sec. 4. Section 321.180B, subsection 6, Code 2025, is
amended by striking the subsection.
Sec. 5. Section 321.180B, subsection 7, Code 2025, is
amended to read as follows:
7. Citations for violation of restrictions. A person who
violates the restrictions imposed under subsection l- or 2, or
b may be issued a citation under this section and shall not be
issued a citation under section 321.193. A violation of the
restrictions imposed under oub3cction subsections 1- and 2, or
{• shall not be considered a moving violation.
Sec. 6. Section 321.194, subsection 5, paragraph d, Code
2025, is amended by striking the paragraph.
Sec. 7. Section 321.210, subsection 2, paragraph e, Code
2025, is amended by striking the paragraph.
Sec. 8. Section 321.238, Code 2025, is amended to read as
follows:
321.238 Use of electronic devices while driving — preemption
of local legislation.
The provisions of this chapter restricting the use of
e l ectronic een, -mrànicßtie n — â eiäï ce s and ele ctrenri• _ - -- t - - t _- ----. e -- t
Senate File 22, p. 3
devices by motor vehicle operators shall be implemented
uniformly throughout the state. Such provisions shall preempt
any county or municipal ordinance regarding the use of an
electronic eamm -= -` l en device— er eleetrenie—entertainment
device by a motor vehicle operator. In addition, a county or
municipality shall not adopt or continue in effect an ordinance
regarding the use of an electronic tien dev -
cicctronic cntcrtainmcnt device by a motor vehicle operator.
Sec. 9. Section 321.276, subsection 1, Code 2025, is amended
by striking the subsection and inserting in lieu thereof the
following:
1. For purposes of this section:
a. Electronic device`" means a device that is powered by
electricity, including by a battery, and that is capable of
being used to compose, send, receive, or read an electronic
message, or that is capable of storing, retrieving on- demand,
or displaying videos, movies, broadcast television images,
visual images, or audio or video data files. ' Electronic
device - includes but is not limited to a telephone including
a cellular telephone, personal digital assistant, portable
or mobile computer including a tablet, two-way messaging
device, electronic gaming device, and any substantially similar
portable device that is used to initiate, store, or receive
electronic communication, information, or data. " Electronic
device - does not include a device that is physically or
electronically integrated into a motor vehicle, including but
not limited to an integrated global positioning system or
navigation system when the destination is entered into such
system before the vehicle is in motion.
b. - Use - includes but is not limited to holding, viewing, or
manipulating an electronic device.
C. Voice- activated or hands- free mode" means an attachment,
accessory, application, wireless connection, or built-in
feature of an electronic device or motor vehicle that allows
a person to use verbal commands or a single touch to activate
or deactivate the device or a function or software application
of the device. —Voice—activated or hands- free mode - does not
include accessing nonnavigation video content, engaging in a
video call, accessing or engaging in video streaming, accessing
Senate File 22, p. 4
gaming data, or reading an electronic message or notification.
Sec. 10. Section 321.276, subsections 2, 3, and 4, Code
2025, are amended to read as follows:
2. A person shall not use a hand hcld an electronic
ion device to write, 3cnd, or vices an cicctronic
message while driving a motor vehicle unless the motor vehicle
is at a complete stop off the traveled portion of the roadway,
or as far away from the center of the roadway as is practicable
if the vehicle cannot be entirely removed from the traveled
portion of the roadway.
a. A person does not violate this section by using a global
positioning 3y3tem or ira•igation 3y3tem or when, for the
Lam — ems - engaging in a on seelect - s - -er enters a
activatc3, dc-activatc3, or initiatc3 a function of a hand held
Mobile telephone an electronic device in a voice- activated or
hands- free mode.
b. The provisions of this subsection relating to writing,
-3cnding, or v-icwing an cicctronic mc33agc the use of an
electronic device do not apply to the following persons:
( 1) A member of a public safety agency, as defined in
section 34.1, performing official duties.
( 2) A health care professional in the course of an emergency
situation.
( 3) A person receiving safety- related information including
emergency, traffic, or weather alerts.
( 4) A person using an electronic device for the purpose
of reporting an emergency situation, including any continued
communication with emergency personnel during the emergency
situation or public transit personnel responding to a
transit- specific situation.
( 5) A person operating an implement of husbandry.
( 6) A person using a two-way radio transmitter or receiver
who is licensed with the federal communications commission in
amateur radio service.
( 7) A member of a public transit system, as defined in
section 324A.1, performing official duties while in a vehicle
that is not in motion.
( 8) A utility maintenance employee or contractor using
Senate File 22, p. 5
an electronic device while in a utility maintenance vehicle,
for the purpose of providing utility services including
but not limited to cable, electric, natural gas, telephone,
telecommunication, water, and wastewater treatment services,
provided the employee or contractor is acting within the scope
of their employment or agency.
( 9) A transportation network company driver, as defined in
section 321N.1, while engaged in a prearranged ride, as defined
in section 321N.1, provided the vehicle is not in motion.
( 10) A person using an electronic device for the purpose of
accessing or using a fleet management system.
3. Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize
a peace officer to confiscate a hand held an electronic
communication device from the driver or occupant of a motor
vehicle.
4. a. 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 " 1 - .
b. A violation of this section shall not be considered a
moving violation for purposes of this chapter e- r- and rules
adopted pursuant to this chapter.
c. Notwithstanding paragraphs - J - and ' b - , a peace officer
shall issue a warning memorandum in lieu of a citation to a
person for violating this section. This paragraph is repealed
January 1, 2026.
Sec. 11. Section 321.482A, unnumbered paragraph 1, Code
2025, is amended to read as follows:
Notwithstanding section 321.482, a person who is convicted
of operating a motor vehicle in violation of ocction 321.178,
aub3cction 2, paragraph ' a", subparagraph ( 2), section
321.180B, sub3ection 6, section 321.194, 3ub3eetion 5,
paragraph " d - , section 321.256, 321.257, section 321.275,
subsection 4, section 321.276, 321.297, 321.298, 321.299,
321.302, 321.303, 321.304, 321.305, 321.306, 321.307, 321.311,
321.319, 321.320, 321.321, 321.322, 321.323, 321.324, 321.324A,
321.327, 321.329, 321.333, section 321.372, subsection 3, or
section 321.449B, causing serious injury to or the death of
another person may be subject to the following penalties in
addition to the penalty provided for a scheduled violation in
Senate File 22, p. 6
section 805.8A or any other penalty provided by law:
Sec. 12. Section 321.555, subsection 2, Code 2025, is
amended to read as follows:
2. Six or more of any separate and distinct offenses within
a two-year period in the operation of a motor vehicle, which
are required to be reported to the department by section
321.491 or chapter 321C, except equipment violations, parking
violations as defined in section 321.210, violations of
registration laws, violations of sections 321.445 and 321.446,
violations of ncction 321.276, operating a vehicle with an
expired license or permit, failure to appear, weights and
measures violations and speeding violations of less than
fifteen miles per hour over the legal speed limit.
Sec. 13. Section 707.6A, subsection 2, paragraph a,
subparagraphs ( 1), ( 2), and ( 3), Code 2025, are amended by
striking the subparagraphs and inserting in lieu thereof the
following:
( 1) For purposes of this paragraph - B - , a person's use of
an electronic device while driving a motor vehicle shall be
considered prima facie evidence that the person was driving
the motor vehicle in a reckless manner with willful or wanton
disregard for the safety of persons or property, in violation
of section 321.277.
( 2) Subparagraph ( 1) does not apply to any of the following:
( a) A person using an electronic device in a voice- activated
or hands- free mode.
( b) A person listed in section 321.276, subsection 2,
paragraph - b".
( 3) For purposes of this paragraph â the following
definitions apply:
( a) - !Electronic device " means the same as defined in section
321.276.
( b) " Use - means the same as defined in section 321.276.
( c ) - Voice-activated or hands- free mode - means the same as
defined in section 321.276.
Sec. 14. Section 805.8A, subsection 4, paragraph c, Code
2025, is amended by striking the paragraph.
Sec. 15. Section 805.8A, subsection 14, paragraph 1, Code
2025, is amended to read as follows:
Senate File 22, p. 7
1 . Writing, scndi ng, or vi cf Use of electronic frtesgage
device while driving violations. For violations under section
321.276, the sche.uled fine is forty five one hundred dollars.
AMY SINC . 1 R
President of the Senate
PAT GRASSLEY
Speaker of thé House
I hereby certify that this bill originated in the Senate and
is known as Senate File 22, Ninety-first General Assembly.
Approv 2025
't, r/ ,c•I t •
W. CHARLES SMITHS•N •
See.retary of the Senate
I
, V
KIX REYNOLD
Governor