Iowa Legislative Report

Ron Reiling, MWACA Lobbyist/St. Louis Liaison

HF 26167 – Towing companies must now accept credit card payments when releasing a vehicle before it is removed from the scene, notify owners sooner when a vehicle has been taken into custody and provide an itemized bill when a vehicle is reclaimed. Companies also must clearly post their towing and storage fees at their business and on their website, if they have one. The law also allows owners to retrieve certain essential personal belongings, such as medications, wallets, keys, prescription glasses and important documents, before paying towing and storage fees.

SF 2426. Anyone applying for a Commercial Driver’s License must be able to pass an English proficiency test. Drivers who fail to meet English proficiency standards while operating a commercial vehicle will face a serious misdemeanor charge and a civil penalty of $1,000. Commercial motor carriers found to employ drivers not proficient in English would be subject to a simple misdemeanor charge and a fine of $10,000 for each violation.

HF 766, Another traffic bill signed into law will allow Iowa drivers to have darker window tint on their vehicles. Current law requires 70% light will drop that to 50%.

SF 378 – Default Speed Limit Raises the default speed limit from 55 to 60 mph, unless otherwise specified by law or local authorities. does not change speed limits for other types of roads: residential and school zones will remain at lower speed limits, and interstate speed limit will remain at 70 miles per hour. Effective Date: July 1, 2026

HF 2617 – Abandoned Vehicles Law Reorganization and Notice Procedures Update Institutes broad reforms to abandoned vehicle procedures. The bill updates notification timelines, allows for credit card payments when releasing a vehicle, establishes new processes for lienholder inspections and owner retrieval of personal property, mandates fee transparency, and asserts state preemption over local ordinances regarding abandoned vehicle towing. It also clarifies legal procedures for reclamation and disposal, and modifies the rights of owners and lienholders in these contexts. Amends Section: 321.89 | Effective Date: July 1, 2026