Relating to the penalties for persons who operate a motor vehicle while their operating privileges are denied, canceled, suspended, revoked, or barred

Sponsored by Rep. Megan Jones (R), Rep. Brian K. Lohse (R), Rep. Brian Meyer (D)

Official bill page Lobbyist declarations One-pager to print

Where it is now

Done: IntroducedFebruary 20, 2025
Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 24, 2025
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

Under current law, a person who operates a motor vehicle while the person’s driver’s license or operating privilege is denied, canceled, suspended, or revoked under Code chapter 321 (motor vehicles and law of the road) or while the person’s driver’s license is suspended, denied, or revoked under Code chapter 321A (motor vehicle financial responsibility) commits a simple misdemeanor. These simple misdemeanors are punishable by confinement for no more than days and a fine of at least $250 but not more than $1,500 (rather than the default simple misdemeanor fine range between $105 and $855).

Read the full explanation

The sentence imposed for such a violation under Code chapter 321 cannot be suspended. If a person operates a motor vehicle while the person’s driver’s license is suspended, denied, revoked, or barred due to a violation of Code chapter 321J (operating while intoxicated (OWI)), the person commits a serious misdemeanor punishable by confinement for no more than one year and a fine of $1,000 (rather than the default serious misdemeanor fine range between $430 and $2,560).8A. The scheduled fine for such a violation is $250. The bill makes a second violation a simple misdemeanor and a third or subsequent violation a serious misdemeanor. A simple misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than days and a fine of at least $105 but not more than $855. A serious misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than one year and a fine of at least $430 but not more than $2,560.218.8C (miscellaneous scheduled violations). The underlying driver’s license sanction of a person convicted for driving while denied, canceled, suspended, revoked, or barred under the bill would be extended in accordance with current law.

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 February 24, 2025. On February 27, 2025 it recommended passage.

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Iowa Code it changes

Amends§321.218 §321A.32 §321J.21 §805.8A

Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works

Lobbying

2 for · 0 against · 3 undecided · Who →