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Senate adopts amendment and passes House File 26-17 to revise towing rules
Summary
The Senate adopted Senate Amendment 52-45 to House File 26-17, adding consumer protections for towed vehicles (including a "drop" payment option, credit-card acceptance, lienholder inspection rights and posted storage fees) and passed the bill 43-0; the Senate immediately messaged the House.
The Senate adopted an amendment to and then passed House File 26-17, a measure that revises rules for commercial towing and adds several consumer protections.
Senator Buslow (Polk), who sponsored the amendment, told colleagues the package was negotiated by stakeholders and aims "to provide consumer protections and to ensure that everyone in that process is protected." He described provisions that would allow a person present at the scene of a commercial tow to pay a drop fee to halt the tow, require towing companies to accept credit cards for such on-site payments, shorten the registered-owner notification period from 20 days to 10 days and extend the vehicle-reclaim window from 10 days to 20 days. The amendment also includes a right for lienholders to inspect vehicles, guarantees timely access to unattached personal property, and requires towing companies to display storage fees.
Senator Dotzler (Blackhawk), who said he had personal experience with a rapid tow and difficulty retrieving belongings, acknowledged imperfections in his own proposed changes but voiced support for the negotiated amendment. "They lied to me," Dotzler said of a towing company in his anecdote, describing a situation that underscored his view that the bill would improve the process for vehicle owners while balancing tow-operator concerns.
After brief debate the floor adopted Senate Amendment 52-45 by voice vote. Senator Buslow moved adoption of the amendment and then moved final passage of the bill as amended. The Senate agreed that the reading thus far be considered the last reading and proceeded to a roll-call vote on passage; the secretary reported 43 ayes and 0 nays, and the chair declared the bill passed.
Following passage, Senator Buslow asked unanimous consent to withdraw Senate File 24-75, which the chair ordered. Senator Clemish (Winneshiek) then asked unanimous consent to immediately message House File 26-17; the request was ordered, and the Senate announced party caucuses and went at ease.
The bill now moves on to the next procedural steps after being messaged to the House. The record shows a unanimous roll-call passage in the Senate and the formal withdrawal of a related Senate file.
