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91st General Assembly · Funnel one-pager · Monday, November 9, 2026

HF 2102: Prohibiting the use of a language other than English for driver’s license examinations

Died when the session ended · The General Assembly adjourned on October 2, 2026. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died.

What it does

Under current law, the English language is the official language of the state of Iowa. All official documents, regulations, orders, transactions, proceedings, programs, meetings, publications, or actions taken or issued, which are conducted or regulated by, or on behalf of, or representing Iowa and all of its political subdivisions are required to be in the English language. However, there are exceptions to this requirement, including communications, examinations, and publications produced or utilized by driver’s license stations. This bill strikes driver’s license examinations from the exception. The bill also prohibits the department of transportation or designated third parties from using a language other than English to examine an applicant for a driver’s license.

Sponsors

Rep. Ann Meyer (R)

Cost

No fiscal note

Senate subcommittee · named March 3, 2026

  • Sen. Mike Pike (R) · mike.pike@legis.iowa.gov
  • Sen. Mark Costello (R) · mark.costello@legis.iowa.gov
  • Sen. Cindy Winckler (D) · cindy.winckler@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 2 for, 13 against

For: Iowa Minuteman Civil Defense Corps; VALOR Iowa

Against: Building Bridges; Dubuque For Refugee Children; Episcopal Diocese of Iowa; Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Action Fund; Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers; Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church; Iowa Insurance Associates; Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice; NAACP, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Iowa-Nebraska; Presentation Lantern Center; Sisters of St. Francis, Dubuque, Iowa; and 1 more

In plain words

  1. January 15, 2026Filed in the House and sent to the Transportation committee
  2. January 30, 2026House subcommittee named: Meggers, Behn and Cooling
  3. February 4, 2026Subcommittee recommended passing it
  4. February 11, 2026Approved by the House committee
  5. February 11, 2026Committee vote: 13–7
  6. February 26, 2026Passed the House, 58–30
  7. March 2, 2026Arrived in the Senate
  8. March 3, 2026Senate subcommittee named: Pike, Costello and Winckler
  9. March 12, 2026Subcommittee recommended passing it

From public records at legis.iowa.gov, compiled by Funnel (iowafunnel.com), an independent, nonpartisan site. Current as of Monday, November 9, 2026. https://iowafunnel.com/bills/91/HF2102