(Des Moines) Iowa will be a hands-free driving state starting this summer. Governor Kim Reynolds signed the bill into law yesterday that bans using electronic devices while driving unless they’re hands-free or voice-activated. Anyone caught violating the law will receive a 100-dollar fine, with higher penalties if a violation causes injury or death. Although the law is set to start on July 1st, law enforcement won’t issue citations until January 1st, 2026.
Sergeant Alex Dinkla from the Iowa State Patrol says drivers can still make calls.
Audio PlayerThe new law, signed by the governor Wednesday, goes into effect July 1. Dinkla says officers will issue warnings through the end of the year.
Meanwhile, the Iowa Department of Government Efficiency Task Force held its first meeting on Wednesday. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds stated that the DOGE Task Force is intended to improve effectiveness at all levels of government. However, many Democrats have expressed dissatisfaction with the new task force. According to a press release from Iowa Senate Democrats, they expressed concerns about the lack of minority party representation on the task force.
