Bill
Bill > HF2179
IA HF2179
IA HF2179A bill for an act requiring the use of safety belts or safety harnesses by passengers of motor vehicles, and making penalties applicable.
summary
Introduced
01/27/2026
01/27/2026
In Committee
01/27/2026
01/27/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
91st General Assembly
Bill Summary
Under current law, Code section 321.445 (safety belts and safety harnesses) requires drivers and front seat occupants of motor vehicles who are 18 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 18 years of age or older. The bill makes corresponding changes to the exceptions, charging provisions, and rulemaking provisions of Code section 321.445. Code section 321.446 (child restraint devices) requires children under 18 years of age to be secured during transit by a child restraint system, safety belt, or safety harness. The bill strikes a provision in Code section 321.446 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. The bill makes the use of the terms “passenger”, “safety belt”, and “safety harness” consistent throughout Code sections 321.445 and 321.446. A violation of Code section 321.445 is punishable by a scheduled fine of $70. A violation of Code section 321.446 is punishable by a scheduled fine of $135. The department of transportation is prohibited from considering either violation in determining an offender’s driver’s license suspension under Code section 321.210 or habitual offender status under Code section 321.555.
AI Summary
This bill expands the requirement for wearing safety belts or safety harnesses, which are devices designed to secure occupants in a vehicle, to all passengers aged 18 and older in motor vehicles that are moving forward on a street or highway, not just those in the front seats. It also removes an exception that previously allowed children in the back seat to not be secured if all available safety belts were in use by other occupants or by child restraint systems. The bill clarifies the use of terms like "passenger," "safety belt," and "safety harness" for consistency and specifies penalties, with a $70 fine for violations related to general safety belt use and a $135 fine for violations involving child restraint devices, while prohibiting the Department of Transportation from using these violations to suspend driver's licenses or declare someone a habitual offender.
Committee Categories
Transportation and Infrastructure
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
House Transportation Committee (14:30:00 2/11/2026 RM 103) (on 02/11/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=HF2179 |
| BillText | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGI/91/attachments/HF2179.html |
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