Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to the use of child restraint devices by certain children traveling in motor vehicles
Sponsored by the House Transportation Committee
Topics:Transportation
Same legislation: HSB 575
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 20, 2026
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 20, 2026
- Done: House committeeFebruary 4, 2026
- Stopped: Passes the HouseDied when the General Assembly ended
- 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
This bill relates to the use of child restraint devices by certain children traveling in motor vehicles, including child restraint systems, safety belts, and safety harnesses. Current law requires a child under one year of age and weighing less than pounds who is being transported in a motor vehicle subject to registration, except a school bus or motorcycle, to be secured during transit in a rear-facing child restraint system that is used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. The bill extends this requirement to a child under two years of age or until the child exceeds the manufacturer’s recommended maximum height and weight limits for the child restraint system.
Read the full explanation
Current law also requires a child under six years of age, who is not subject to the above requirement, and who is being transported in a motor vehicle subject to registration, except a school bus or motorcycle, to be secured during transit by a child restraint system that is used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. The bill extends this requirement to children under eight years of age. Accordingly, the bill requires a child at least eight years of age (instead of six) but under years of age who is being transported in a motor vehicle subject to registration, except a school bus or motorcycle, to be secured during transit by a child restraint system that is used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions or by an approved safety belt or safety harness. The bill strikes a provision 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 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 20, 2026 (as HSB 575). On February 4, 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
Iowa Code it changes
Amends§321.446
Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works
Lobbying
3 for · 0 against · 3 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.
Study bill
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 an earlier General Assembly. None got through a chamber.
- SF 164 Relating to the use of child restraint devices by certain children traveling in motor vehi…90th General Assembly · Approved by committee · same titleCleared committee
- HF 2181 Requiring certain children to be secured in child restraint devices when traveling in moto…90th General Assembly · In committee · very similarCleared 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.