All bills passed by Legislature & sent to Governor – 2013
SF 114 – Certificate of deposit as proof of financial responsibility
SF 115 – Graduated driver’s license
SF 224 – Fee for duplicate driver’s licenses & ID cards, and period of validity
SF 340 – Length of on-duty periods & rest periods for drivers of rail crew transport vehicles
SF 349 – Deadline for obtaining a registration fee credit for a vehicle
SF 355 – Regulation of vehicles of excessive size and weight
SF 386 – Department of Transportation omnibus
HF 14 – Enforcement of weight limits for vehicles with retractable axles
HF 355 – Authorizing online driver’s license renewal & transitioning to 8-year renewal period
HF 395 – Motor vehicle manufacturer’s agreement regarding sales territory
HF 487 – County for titling used manufactured or mobile home purchased by a retailer
SF 114 - A person who is required to file proof of financial responsibility to operate a motor vehicle may do so by filing $55,000 in the form of a certificate of deposit. This bill amends Code section 321A.25 to provide that the certificate of deposit is to be made payable to the Department of Transportation and filed directly with the department. The bill makes conforming amendments to the definition of “financial liability coverage” in Code section 321.1, the list of alternate methods of filing proof of financial responsibility contained in Code section 321A.18, and related provisions in Code sections 321A.27 and 321A.29. [Senate 2/6: 48-0; House 4/9: 99-0; Gov 4/24: signed]
SF 115 changes provisions of the graduated drivers licensing program and to special minor’s licenses for travel to and from school. The bill increases the required time a person who is 16 or 17 must hold an instruction permit from six months to 12 months before they may qualify for an intermediate license. During that period, they must accumulate a total of 20 hours of driving accompanied by an authorized adult so that teens learning to drive get supervised experience in all four seasons.
The bill also imposes a new passenger restriction for holders of intermediate and special minor licenses. Unless accompanied by an approved adult, a teen with an intermediate license or a special minor’s license may not drive with more than one unrelated minor passenger in the vehicle. The restriction on unrelated minor passengers is lifted for an intermediate licensee after six months. In addition, parents may exempt their child who holds an intermediate license from this requirement. Exemption will be signified by a symbol on the license.
A violation is a simple misdemeanor punishable by a scheduled fine of $50. The bill takes effect January 1, 2014. [Senate 3/27: 41-8 (Chapman, Ernst, Feenstra, Rozenboom, Sinclair, Smith, Whitver, Zaun “no”; Greiner excused); House 4/17: 89-10; Gov 5/1: signed]
SF 224 changes the fee for a duplicate driver’s license or ID card. The fee for a duplicate driver’s license or ID card that was lost or destroyed had been $3. The fee for voluntary replacement (e.g., to reflect a name change) was $1. The bill established a single replacement fee of $10, which is the actual cost. In addition, the bill allows honorably discharged veterans to have their veteran status noted on their driver’s licenses or ID when obtaining a duplicate, rather than waiting until their license comes up for renewal.
The bill also extends the period of validity of driver’s licenses and ID cards from five years to eight years, with a corresponding fee increase from $5 to $8. To comply with REAL ID requirements, non-expiring ID cards will no longer be issued to those 70 or over. If a driver is between 18 and 72, their license is good for up to eight years, not to exceed the driver’s 74th birthday. For those below 18 and over 72, a license is good for two years. The fee for a driver’s license will be based on the number of years it is valid. In addition, anyone who surrenders their license due to an inability to drive will receive an ID card at no charge. [House 4/9: 99-0; Senate 4/16: 38-12 (Anderson, Bertrand, Chapman, Chelgren, Dix, Feenstra, Guth, Sinclair, Smith, Sorenson, Whitver, Zaun “no”); Gov 5/1: signed]
SF 340 sets length of on-duty and rest periods for drivers of rail crew transport vehicles that are similar to those for commercial vehicle operators. The bill provides a detailed definition of “on duty” and “uninterrupted rest.” A driver who violates the hours-of-service restrictions commits a simple misdemeanor punishable by a scheduled fine of $50. A violation by a railroad worker transportation company or a railroad corporation is a schedule “one” penalty, subject to a fine of $100 under current law applicable to railroads. [Senate 3/19: 46-2 (Chapman, Feenstra “no”; Bolkcom, Dearden excused); House 4/9: 99-0; Gov 4/24: signed]
SF 349 – When a person transfers ownership of a vehicle, they are entitled to a credit of the unexpired portion of the annual registration fee. This bill extends to six months the deadline for obtaining a vehicle registration fee credit when a vehicle is sold, transferred or junked. In addition, when a motor vehicle is purchased by a lessee upon termination of a lease, the lessee has six months to transfer the registration fee credit and the registration plates. [Senate 3/13: 49-0 (Courtney excused); House3/19: 97-0; Gov 4/5: signed]
SF 355 reorganizes Iowa Code chapter 321E (vehicles of excessive size and weight) and updates various provisions in the chapter. Highlights of the legislation include:
• Updating all language for clarification and removing outdated language.
• Making changes to support electronic permitting.
• Combining all permit fees into the same section, Code section 321E.14.
• Moving Code provisions related to garbage trucks from Code chapter 321 to chapter 321E.
• Raising the continuous movement maximum height requirement to coordinate with Midwest states.
• Amending Code section 321E.16 to include violations by escort operators. This violation is established as a simple misdemeanor punishable by a scheduled fine of $200. [Senate 3/13: 49-0 (Courtney excused); House 4/9: 99-0; Gov 4/24: signed]
SF 386 is the Department of Transportation (DOT) omnibus bill. Highlights include:
• Allowing individuals to add emergency/medical information to their electronic record for their driver’s license or ID and self-manage the information on the DOT’s website.
• Adding the option of maintaining proof of financial liability coverage electronically to make more convenient to provide to a requesting officer.
• Complying with the federal regulations that require texting or using hand-held phones while operating a commercial motor vehicle to be an offence for purposes of commercial driver’s license disqualification. The receipt of federal highway funds is conditioned upon compliance.
• Complying with the federal transportation legislation approved in 2012 that requires an ignition interlock device for one year for repeat OWI offenders. This allows them to get a temporary restricted license after a mandatory revocation period. The receipt of federal highway funds is conditioned upon compliance.
• Allowing fleets to renew the annual register on all their vehicles at the same time.
• Allowing “completed motor vehicles” to include “glider kit” vehicles. [Senate 4/30: 49-0 (Sorenson excused); House 5/7: 94-5; Gov 5/15: signed]
HF 14 allows a vehicle to raise a retractable axle when necessary to negotiate a turn, provided the retractable axle is lowered within 1,000 feet of completing the turn. The vehicle is exempt from axle weight limitations while making the turn with a raised retractable axle, so long as the vehicle is in compliance when the retractable axle is lowered. The exemption does not apply on an interstate highway, including a ramp leading to or from the interstate or on a bridge. [House 2/6: 98-0; Senate 3/27: 49-0 (Greiner excused); Gov 4/5: signed]
HF 355 permits online driver’s license renewal by allowing the Department of Transportation (DOT) to waive the vision test or the filing of a vision report, pursuant to rules of the department. Drivers may renew their license online every other time it comes up for renewal. The bill authorizes the adoption of emergency rules to implement this provision and is effective upon enactment. The bill also allows DOT to transition from five-year to eight-year renewal periods for driver’s licenses and ID cards. During the transition, DOT may issue driver’s licenses and ID cards valid for five, six, seven or eight years to equalize renewal periods. [Senate 4/23: 48-0 (Chelgren, Zumbach excused); House 4/7: 92-6; Gov 5/15: signed]
HF 395 establishes a review process when an auto manufacturer wants to alter a motor vehicle dealer’s area of responsibility. The manufacturer must give a 60-day notice to a dealer about the proposed change. If the dealer does not like the proposed change:
1) The dealer can request an explanation for the change within 30 days (or another date stated in the notice);
2) After receiving the explanation, but before the effective date, the dealer may object to the proposed change. The manufacturer must provide an internal appeal process if they have not already allowed the dealer to provide information in objection to the change prior to issuing notice;
3) Within 15 days of completion of the internal appeal process, a dealer may request a hearing as allowed under current law. Other dealers in surrounding communities affected by the proposed change may participate in the hearing. Through the hearing, the Department of Inspections and Appeals may affirm, deny or modify the proposed change in the dealer’s area of responsibility, ensure the change is reasonable and assess the costs of the hearing to the parties. There will be no cost to the state or to taxpayers. The manufacturer has the burden of proof because they are altering the status quo.
No change in a dealer’s area of responsibility may occur during the internal appeal process or the hearing, which may take longer than 60 days to complete. A manufacturer may not take any adverse action against a dealer because of a change in the dealer’s area of responsibility for at least 12 months after the effective date. The bill makes conforming changes in Code sections 322A.7 and 322A.9. [House 3/18: 98-0; Senate 4/8: 50-0; Gov 4/24: signed]
HF 487 says that a manufactured or mobile home retailer who acquires a used home must obtain a certificate of title within 30 days of acquisition from the treasurer of the county where the home is located—not the county where the retailer is located. [Senate 4/23: 48-0 (Chelgren, Zumbach excused); House 4/30: 99-0; Gov 5/9: signed]