IowaIowa sets a 60-mile-per-hour default speed limit
Iowa’s law sets a 60-mile-per-hour default limit and bars insurers from using certain lower-speed violations in rate and coverage decisions.
What it does
The default speed limit for all vehicular traffic is 60 miles per hour, unless another speed limit or restriction applies.
For certain license-related decisions, the law excludes the first two qualifying lower-speed violations in a 12-month period or during a probation period, depending on the decision.
Insurers may not use the first two qualifying lower-speed violations in a 12-month period to set motor vehicle rates or cancel or refuse to renew coverage.
When updating signs after a speed limit increase, highway agencies may use Department of Transportation-approved temporary overlays or stickers on existing signs until they replace them.
Argument forDrivers may keep lower-speed tickets out of insurance rate and coverage decisions, which could help them keep affordable coverage.
Argument againstDrivers may still face insurance consequences for speeding more than 10 miles per hour over the limit or after their first two qualifying violations in a year.
More detail
The law sets the default speed limit for vehicular traffic at 60 miles per hour. This default applies to all vehicular traffic. Other speed limits or restrictions still apply.
The law excludes certain speeding violations from specified license-related decisions. One provision covers the first two such violations within any 12-month period; the other covers the first two within the probation period. The exclusions cover violations of 10 miles per hour or less over the limit in zones with limits between 34 and 61 miles per hour.
Insurers may not consider certain speeding violations when setting rates or canceling or refusing to renew motor vehicle insurance. The rule applies to motor vehicle insurance in Iowa. The rule covers only the first two qualifying violations in any 12-month period. Each must be 10 miles per hour or less over the limit in a zone with a limit between 34 and 61 miles per hour. The violations must occur on or after July 1, 2026.
Highway agencies may use approved temporary overlays or stickers to show an increased speed limit on existing signs. This applies to the agency responsible for a highway where the speed limit increased. The Department of Transportation must approve the overlays or stickers. Agencies may use them until they replace the signs under their replacement schedules and applicable requirements.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 2Fiscal note.Latest
- Jun 1Signed by Governor Kim Reynolds.Became Law
- May 5Reported correctly enrolled, signed by President and Speaker, and sent to Governor.To Governor
- Apr 22Message from Senate.
- Vote recorded Shall the bill pass? Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 22Immediate message.
- Apr 22Passed Senate, yeas 28, nays 16.Major
- Apr 22Senate concurred with S-5153.
- Apr 7Fiscal note.
- Apr 2Message from House, with amendment S-5153.
- Apr 1Immediate message.
- Vote recorded Shall the bill pass? Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 1Passed House, yeas 76, nays 16.Passed 2nd Chamber
- Apr 1Committee amendment H-8231 out of order.
- Apr 1Amendment H-8245 adopted.Major
- Apr 1Committee amendment H-8231 deferred.
- Mar 26Placed on calendar under unfinished business.
- Mar 19Amendment H-8245 filed.Minor
- Mar 18Placed on calendar.
- Mar 18Committee amendment H-8231 filed.Minor
- Mar 18Committee vote: Yeas, 19. Nays, 0. Excused, 2.
- Mar 18Committee report, recommending amendment and passage.Minor
- Mar 11Subcommittee recommends passage.Minor
- Mar 9Subcommittee Meeting: [].
- Mar 5Subcommittee reassigned: Jones, Gosa and Siegrist.
- Mar 3Subcommittee: Meggers, Gosa and Henderson.
- 2025
- Apr 1Fiscal note.
- Apr 1Subcommittee recommends passage.Minor
- Mar 27Subcommittee Meeting: 04/01/2025 8:30AM House Lounge.
- Mar 26Subcommittee: Bossman, Cooling and Mommsen.
- Mar 18Read first time, referred to Transportation.Minor
- Vote recorded Shall the bill pass? Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 18Message from Senate.
- Mar 18Immediate message.
- Mar 18Passed Senate, yeas 36, nays 12.Passed 1st Chamber
- Feb 19Committee report, approving bill.Minor
- Feb 19Introduced, placed on calendar.Introduced
Transportation