Senate passes hands‑free driving bill after defeat of amendment to add agricultural exceptions

Senate File 22, a hands‑free driving measure that would require electronic devices to be in voice‑activated or hands‑free mode while a vehicle is in motion and increases penalties for violations, passed the Senate after floor debate and a roll-call on a proposed amendment.

Senator Lofgren of Muscatine, the floor sponsor, described the legislation as a public‑safety measure responding to a growing problem on Iowa highways. "This bill requires the use of electronic devices while a car is in motion, be in voice activated or hands free mode, and it increases penalties," Lofgren said, summarizing the bill’s effect and the penalty increases.

During debate, the Senate considered Senate Amendment (referred to in debate as Senate Amendment 3027), which would have narrowed the bill’s coverage to avoid applying the hands‑free requirement in some agricultural uses (for example, operators of farm implements such as tractors and combines). Senator Busigliano (as referenced on the floor) and others urged adoption of the amendment on the grounds that it would protect farm families and rural operators who must use equipment on secondary highways. Senator Kornbach said, "Passing this amendment will save rural lives," and cited the size and handling characteristics of agricultural equipment on narrow roads.

Opponents of the amendment contended it would create an overly broad exemption that would undermine the bill’s public‑safety purpose. Senator Zumba argued the bill is targeted to the primary distracted‑driving problem areas and warned against exemptions for groups not causing the problem. Senator Visignano called for rejection of the amendment and asked for a recorded roll‑call vote to adopt the amendment. The amendment was defeated on the roll call; the presiding officer announced "the amendment is defeated. We are back on Senate File 22 as not amended." The Senate then agreed to final reading and passage of the bill. The final roll call on passage recorded 47 ayes and 1 nay; the title was agreed to and the bill passed the Senate.

The bill as discussed on the floor increases fines (the sponsor described the existing fine as $45 and said the bill increases it to $100; penalties for incidents involving serious injury or death were described as $500 and $1,000 with possible license suspension) and contains enumerated exceptions for law enforcement, emergency responders, utility emergencies, and public‑transit operations. The transcript shows disagreement about whether an agricultural operator exemption should be added; that amendment attempt was defeated. The transcript does not include the enrolled text or final negotiated statutory language or the House response beyond references to an existing agreement with the House. Senator Lofgren thanked stakeholders including the Department of Public Safety and state troopers for work on the bill.