Bills › 91st General Assembly

Relating to speed limits, including the speed limit in school districts and the penalty for speeding in excess of twenty miles per hour over the limit

Sponsored by Rep. Joshua Meggers (R)

Topics:Public safety & emergenciesTransportation

Same legislation: HF 2496

Where it is now

  1. Done: IntroducedJanuary 13, 2026
  2. Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 13, 2026
  3. Done: House committeeFebruary 10, 2026
  4. Skipped: Passes the HouseContinued as HF 2496
  5. Next: Senate committee
  6. Next: Passes the Senate
  7. Next: To the Governor
  8. Next: Signed into law

Became HF 2496 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to HF 2496 What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

AI summary Drivers traveling through school districts would face a lower speed limit and higher fines for speeding. To make this change, cities and counties can use approved stickers or overlays on existing signs instead of replacing the whole sign immediately. If a person speeds by more than 10 miles per hour in these areas, the fine increases to $285 plus an additional charge for every mile per hour they were over the limit.1

Read the official explanation

Under current law, the speed limit in a school district is miles per hour (MPH). Each school district must be marked by distinctive signs as provided by the current manual of uniform traffic control devices adopted by the department of transportation and placed on the highway at the limits of such school district. For purposes of Code chapter 321 (motor vehicles and law of the road), “school district” means the territory contiguous to and including a highway for a distance of 200 feet in either direction from a schoolhouse in a city. This bill reduces the speed limit from MPH to MPH in a school district.290(2)) are authorized to determine and declare a reduced speed limit that is reasonable and proper on secondary roads or city streets, as applicable, based on an engineering and traffic investigation. Such speed limit becomes effective when proper and appropriate signs giving notice of the speed limit are erected. The bill authorizes a county or city, as applicable, when updating speed limit signs as a result of the bill, to attach nonpermanent overlays or stickers approved by the department of transportation to existing speed limit signs in order to display the new speed limit. The nonpermanent overlays or stickers may be used until the applicable speed limit sign is replaced based on the county’s or city’s respective replacement schedule and any applicable specifications or requirements.36 (state parks and preserves), commits a simple misdemeanor punishable by a scheduled fine that varies depending on the excessive speed. The fine ranges from $30 for a speed in excess of the limit by not more than MPH to $135 plus $5 for each MPH of excessive speed over MPH over the limit. The bill increases the scheduled fine for excessive speed over MPH over the limit to $285 plus $5 for each MPH of excessive speed over MPH over the limit.

Full bill text2

House subcommittee

Named January 13, 2026. On January 26, 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§321.285§805.8A

How the Code works3

Lobbying

5 for · 0 against · 11 undecided · Who →

Family tree

Similar bills

  • HF 178 Relating to the penalty for speeding in excess of twenty miles per hour over the limit
    91st General Assembly · Passed House
    Nearly identical

Matched by wording or an identical title.