Bills › 91st General Assembly
Requiring the use of safety belts or safety harnesses by passengers of motor vehicles, and making penalties applicable
Sponsored by Rep. Travis M. Sitzmann (R)
Topics:Transportation
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 27, 2026
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 28, 2026
- Stopped: House committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: Senate committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The General Assembly adjourned on October 2, 2026. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
445 (safety belts and safety harnesses) requires drivers and front seat occupants of motor vehicles who are years of age or older to wear a properly adjusted and fastened safety belt or safety harness any time the vehicle is in forward motion on a street or highway. This bill applies the requirement to all passengers of the vehicle who are years of age or older.445.446 (child restraint devices) requires children under years of age to be secured during transit by a child restraint system, safety belt, or safety harness.
Read the full explanation
446 that exempts children occupying the back seat of a motor vehicle from having to be secured during transit by a child restraint system, safety belt, or safety harness if no safety belt is available because all safety belts are being used by other occupants or cannot be used due to the use of a child restraint system in the seating position for which a belt is provided.446.445 is punishable by a scheduled fine of $70.446 is punishable by a scheduled fine of $135.555.
From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Amendments adopted later aren’t reflected. Full bill text
House subcommittee
Named January 28, 2026. On February 10, 2026 it recommended passage.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
1 written public comment to its subcommittee: February 10, 2026 (1) · on the Legislature’s site
Iowa Code it changes
Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works
Lobbying
5 for · 0 against · 2 undecided · Who →
Family tree
Where this legislation came from and where it went: earlier tries, the versions it moved through this Assembly, and later bills built on it.
Tried before
91st General Assembly
Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title; check the text to be sure it’s the same idea.
Tried before
This idea has been filed in 2 earlier General Assemblies. None got through a chamber.
- SF 28 Requiring the use of safety belts or safety harnesses by passengers of motor vehicles, and…90th General Assembly · In committee · same titleCleared committee
- HF 2003 Requiring the use of safety belts or safety harnesses by passengers of motor vehicles, and…88th General Assembly · Subcommittee recommends passage · same titleCleared committee
- HF 2077 Requiring the use of safety belts or safety harnesses by passengers of motor vehicles, and…88th General Assembly · In committee · same titleCleared committee
- HF 461 Requiring the use of safety belts or safety harnesses by passengers of motor vehicles, and…88th General Assembly · In committee · same titleCleared committee
- SF 2012 Requiring the use of safety belts or safety harnesses by passengers of motor vehicles, and…88th General Assembly · Subcommittee recommends passage · same titleCleared committee
Matched by the wording of each bill’s explanation, or an identical title. Companion bills and renumbered versions of this bill aren’t listed; they’re the same bill.