Be prepared: New laws went into effect July 1

Fifteen years ago, Iowa legislature banned texting while driving. However, this law has been hard to enforce, as drivers can still use their phones for calls and GPS.

The past several legislative sessions have seen hands-free bills introduced, but ultimately fail to garner enough support to make it out of both the House and Senate for the governor’s desk. This year, that support came.

Gov. Kim Reynolds signed SF 22 into law April 2, making Iowa the 31st state to institute a hands-free driving law. The law goes into effect tomorrow, July 1.

“About the only time that you can use an electronic device is if you are at a complete stop and out of the traveled portion of the roadway,” Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater said. “In the case of a GPS or navigation system, the destination must be entered before the vehicle is in motion.”

The bill is not limited to cellphones but any electronic devices, defined as, “a device that is powered by electricity, including by a battery, and that is capable of being used to compose, send, receive or read an electronic message, or that is capable of storing, retrieving on-demand or displaying videos, movies, broadcast television images, visual images or audio or video data files.”

In addition to cellphones, this would include digital assistants, computers, tablets and electronic gaming devices. Things physically or electronically integrated into the motor vehicle, like GPS, would not count.

“Use” of the device includes, but is not limited to, holding, viewing or manipulating an electronic device.

While the use of voice-activation or hands-free mode is encouraged, it still does not allow drivers to access video content, engage in video calls, accessing gaming data or reading a notification or message. Drivers will be allowed to use the device while at a complete stop off the traveled portion of the roadway.

From July 1 to Dec. 31, law enforcement will be only issuing warnings for violating the hands-free driving law. Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, a $170 moving violation could be imposed for the infraction.

“But the bigger deterrent, in my opinion, is the fact that if you are involved in an accident and the result is serious bodily injury or death to anyone involved, while using an electronic device, it is considered ‘reckless driving’ and the stricter felony level ‘serious injury by vehicle’ and/or ‘homicide by vehicle’ penalties apply,” Vandewater said.

Hands-free driving isn’t the only topic in Iowa being updated tomorrow. Dozens of laws have been added or updated in the past legislative session, all going into effect July 1.

Fireworks regulations

While many cities and counties have their own ordinances regarding when and where fireworks can be used, SF 303 will overrule them.

Signed May 19 by Reynolds, this law ensures Iowans can light fireworks on July 3 from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., July 4 from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Dec. 31 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. the next morning.

Minimum age to possess or carry weapons

On April 18, Reynolds signed HF 924 into law, changing the state’s minimum age to purchase and carry a handgun from 21 to 18.

While both federal and Iowa law already allowed for the purchase of long guns like shotguns and rifles for 18 year olds, Iowa previously did not allow anyone under the age of 21 to purchase or carry a handgun.

Since 2021, Iowans are allowed to both purchase and carry handguns without a permit to acquire or a permit to carry, subject to certain limitations.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety still recommends obtaining a permit as there are benefits, including allowing Iowans to carry in states with permit reciprocity while traveling.

Other Iowa laws that go into effect on July 1 include:

SF 106 - Allows individuals to carry loaded firearms on snowmobiles and ATVs without requiring the firearm to be enclosed in a case. However, firearms cannot be discharged from these vehicles.

SF 296 - Allows police canines to receive emergency veterinary services from a non-licensed provider if the canine is critically injured in the line of duty.

SF 369 - Requires high school students pass the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization civics test in order to graduate. The test is to be multiple choice and students must correctly answer 60% of answers to pass.

SF 418 - Removes gender identity from the Iowa Civil Rights Act, taking protections away from transgender and nonbinary people. Signed by Reynolds on Feb. 28, Iowa became the first state to remove these protections.

SF 423 - Requires the Iowa DNR to make youth deer hunting licenses available our purchase at the same time as general deer hunting licenses. IDNR is also to issue shooting permits to any landowner who suffers $1,000 or more in damage to crops caused by wild animals.