SF 303 – Special license plates for military service (part of Veterans omnibus)
SF 2192 – Definition of motorized bike or moped
SF 2228 – Minor School License for extracurricular activities in school sharing
SF 2250 – Definition of vehicle recycling
SF 2290 – Exempts rail operators from carrying a driver’s license
SF 2291 – Registration & titling for new completed motor vehicle
SF 2338 – Computing tax on compressed & liquefied natural gas as special fuel
SF 2355 – Department of Transportation omnibus (became Appropriations bill)
SF 2364 – Length for motorsports vehicle hauling (part of Ways & Means bill)
HF 2181 – Increases weight limit for vehicles covered under lemon law
HF 2216 – Updating definition of Off-Road Utility Vehicle
HF 2230 – Weight exemption for equipment to install permanent ag conservation
SF 303 is the 2014 Veterans omnibus bill. Division III eliminates the initial fee charged for issuance of motor vehicle registration plates associated with military service, but maintains the annual $5 renewal fee. Revenue generated by the annual $5 renewal fee will go to the Veterans License Fee Fund, which currently has a balance of about $400,000. Eliminating the initial fee for issuance of service-related plates will reduce revenue to the Veterans License Fee Fund by less than $20,000 per year. The plates include: National Guard, Pearl Harbor, Purple Heart, United States Armed Forces Retired, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, Air Force Cross, Soldier’s Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Medal, Airman’s Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Combat Action Badge, Combat Action Ribbon, Air Force Combat Action Medal, Combat Medical Badge, Gold Star, and United States Veteran. [Senate 4/25: 48-0; House 4/28: 94-2; Gov 5/26: signed]
SF 2192 revises the definition of a motorized bicycle (moped) by increasing the maximum speed capability to 39 miles per hour to allow them to keep up with the flow of traffic. Currently, a moped is defined as a motor vehicle with a saddle or seat that travels on three or fewer wheels, and is not capable of going above 30 miles per hour on level ground. [Senate 2/24: 47-2; House 3/18: 98-1; Gov 3/26: signed]
SF 2228 allows a teen with a special minor’s license to drive anytime between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. from their home or school of enrollment to another school by the most direct route to participate in extracurricular activities under a sharing agreement. The teen may also drive to the closest gas station to refuel. Currently, a person holding a special minor’s license may not drive to extracurricular activities outside the school district where they reside. [Senate 2/25: 50-0; House 3/18: 98-0; Gov 3/26: signed]
SF 2250 updates Iowa Code section 321.1 as it relates to the licensing of vehicle recyclers. The bill adds those who advertise their services to the definitions of used vehicle parts dealer, vehicle rebuilder and vehicle salvager. The bill adds insurance companies and mutual insurance associations to those who are exempt from being licensed as a vehicle recycler in order to carry out their business. [Senate 3/10: 46-0; House 3/12: 99-0; Gov 3/26: signed]
SF 2290 provides that rail crewmembers are not required to carry a motor vehicle driver’s license when operating a locomotive or train. They are already required to carry multiple rail-related forms of identification. [Senate 3/3: 48-0; House 3/13: 98-0; Gov 3/26: signed]
SF 2291 establishes an alternative process for an equipment dealer to acquire a new vehicle without paying the fee for new registration, modify the vehicle and sell it as a used vehicle. Three requirements must be met:
1. The equipment dealer rebuilds the vehicle to create an ambulance, rescue vehicle, fire vehicle, or towing or recovery vehicle; or installs special equipment on the new completed motor truck with a gross vehicle weight rating of 14,500 pounds or more.
2. The value of the work performed and equipment installed equals or exceeds 80 percent of the purchase price paid.
3. The equipment dealer sells the modified vehicle as a used vehicle to a business or government entity, not an individual consumer.
The equipment dealer must obtain a certificate of title and registration, but is exempt from paying annual registration fees, provided the vehicle is used only for purposes incidental to resale and displays a dealer plate. [Senate 2/27: 47-0; House 3/19: 96-0; Gov 4/3: signed]
SF 2338 revises the method of calculating the excise tax on compressed natural gas used as a special fuel and establishes an excise tax on liquefied petroleum gas used as a special fuel. Both rates are calculated to be equivalent to the motor fuel tax. For compressed natural gas used as a special fuel, the rate is 21 cents per gasoline gallon. A gasoline gallon equivalent of compressed natural gas is 5.66 pounds. For liquefied natural gas used as a special fuel, the tax rate equivalent is 22.5 cents per diesel gallon. A diesel gallon equivalent of liquefied natural gas is 6.06 pounds of liquefied natural gas. The bill updates references throughout the Code. [Senate 3/18: 45-0; House 3/18: 98-0; Gov 3/26: signed]
SF 2355is the Department of Transportation’s “Omnibus” bill. Highlights include:
DIVISION I – Compliance with federal law – In compliance with federal law, extends the Iowa DOT’s responsibility to regulate junkyards along the national highway system, in addition to the interstate system. A junkyard may not be within 1,000 feet of the national highway system unless it is not visible from the road or is screened from view, or is located within an industrial area. Junkyards already in existence that do not comply with this law will be grandfathered in and will be screened, if feasible. Compliance prevents Iowa from losing $32 million from the federal government.
• In compliance with federal law, expands the DOT’s regulation of billboards by redefining “primary highways” to include the national highway system and the federal-aid primary system as it existed on June 1, 1991. Certain restrictions on the placement of advertising devices are amended to narrow the application. Compliance prevents Iowa from losing $46 million from the federal government.
DIVISION II – Miscellaneous provisions – Allows release of a lien on a motor vehicle with a valid certificate of title issued by another state on which the security interest is no longer noted.
• In compliance with federal law, exempts farmers from commercial driver’s license requirements while operating a covered farm vehicle.
• Allows certain third-party testers to administer the driving skills test required for a commercial driver’s license. Approved third-party testers effective upon enactment and sunset them after five years.
• Updates the Code to describe and reflect current practice for new colored lights and lighted symbols used on official traffic-control signals.
• Describes the arrangement of lights on official traffic control signals.• Establishes a commercial air
service retention and expansion committee.
• Extends the deadline from 10 to 30 days to return the certificate of title and claim a refund of the registration fee on an aircraft that is junked or destroyed.
• Changes quarterly reports on the DOT’s implementation of efficiency measures to annual reports.
• Requires county engineers to report on intersections with speed limits 55 miles per hour or greater that do not have signage to direct traffic approaching from every direction.
• Shortens the license revocation for a Minor School License (MSL) to 30 days and eliminates high-risk insurance requirements to make the penalty consistent with other levels in Iowa’s Graduated Driver’s Licensing system. After the 30-day revocation of an MSL, the teen will be required to go back to their Instruction Permit.
DIVISION III – Motor vehicle dealers – Allows dealer plates to be used to haul a load or tow a trailer at a fee of $750 for a two-year period.
• Adopts the “manufacturer’s suggested retail price” for use in calculating repairs that restore a vehicle to factory condition; require disclosure if repairs amount to more than 4 percent of MSRP.
• Clarifies that the exemption for dealers on the fee for new registration applies to loaner vehicles, whether they are being offered for sale or not.
• Allows commercial brokering/consignment sales of used heavy-duty trucks if they are sold to businesses or farmers. The consignor must maintain financial liability coverage, and the dealer assumes no liability for damages resulting from a test drive. [Senate 4/21: 42-6; House 4/29: 97-0; Gov 5/30: signed]
SF 2364establishes in Division II a new motorsports recreational vehicle classification. These are modified motor vehicles used to participate in motorsports competitions. Under the bill, a “manufacturer” includes those who use an already completed motor vehicle to construct a motorsports recreational vehicle. The annual registration fee is $400, with penalties for improper registration. The length of a motorsports recreational vehicle is limited to 45 feet. To the extent allowed under federal law, the maximum length of the motorsports recreational vehicle coupled with a trailer is 85 feet. Motor vehicle provisions applicable to motor homes will apply to motorsports recreational vehicles. A four-wheeled trailer towed by a motorsports recreational vehicle is not required to be registered as a semitrailer.
There are very few of these vehicles on Iowa roads, but they currently exceed length limits. This will reclassify them so they can be driven on roads without being fined. [Senate 5/1: 47-0; House 4/30: 96-2: 93-0; Gov 5/30: signed]
HF 2181 raises the upper weight limit for vehicles covered under the lemon law (Code chapter 322G) to 15,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating. The current cap is 10,000 pounds. It was set in 1991 and reflects the vehicle sizes of that time. Today’s vehicles, particularly pickup trucks, typically weigh more. This bill would be especially beneficial to rural Iowa pickup truck buyers. It would apply to vehicles originally purchased or leased on or after July 1, 2014. The bill is strongly supported by the Attorney General’s office, which enforces the Lemon Law, because the office sees this bill as good consumer protection. [Senate 3/24: 45-0; House 2/18: 97-0; Gov 4/3: signed]
HF 2216 revises the definition of off-road utility vehicle. “Off-road utility vehicle” currently is defined as a motorized vehicle with four to eight non-highway tires or rubberized tracks, a bucket or bench seat, and a steering wheel or control levers. This includes vehicles with an engine displacement of less than 1,500 cubic centimeters and a total dry weight of less than 2,000 pounds. The bill strikes the limitation on engine size and establishes three off-road utility vehicle classifications based on weight and width.
Type 1: vehicles with a total dry weight of 1,200 pounds or less and a width of 50 inches or less.
Type 2: vehicles, other than type 1 vehicles, with a total dry weight of 2,000 pounds or less and a width of 65 inches or less.
Type 3: vehicles with a total dry weight of more than 2,000 pounds or a width of more than 65 inches, or both.
Off-road vehicle enthusiasts and dealers say this change will allow more types of all-terrain and off-road utility vehicles to use designated parks. [Senate 2/24: 49-0; House 2/18: 99-0; Gov 3/7: signed]
HF 2230 extends the weight exemption for implements of husbandry to vehicles used to establish permanent conservation practices on agricultural land. The goal is to make it easier to implement the “Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy” that the Legislature approved in 2013. This bill will help farmers more quickly and cost effectively get conservation practices in place. Instead of loading the equipment onto trailers, the machines will be permitted to driven down the road by their own power. An amber flashing light must be visible from the rear. Warning flags are required on the portion of the vehicle that protrudes into oncoming traffic, and the vehicle may only be operated from 30 minutes prior to sunrise to 30 minutes following sunset. The bill does not limit the ability of state or local authorities to impose restrictions for limited periods of time when special circumstances exist. The bill was unanimously approved by the House on February 25. The Senate adopted an amendment on the floor to make the bill effective upon enactment. Another amendment clarifies that the equipment may carry no payload. The bill returns to the House for its concurrence. [Senate 3/26: 48-0; House 2/25: 97-0; Gov 4/10: signed]