The Iowa Senate made headlines on Tuesday by voting to enhance road safety through two significant legislative measures—one banning handheld devices while driving and the other raising the speed limit on certain roads. In a unanimous decision, the Senate voted 47-1 to approve a bill designed to prohibit the use of handheld cellphones behind the wheel, a change that state law enforcement has long advocated.
The new law expands Iowa’s existing restrictions on texting while driving to include any usage of a handheld cellphone or electronic device while driving. Republican Senator Kerry Gruenhagen of Walcott stood as the lone dissenting voice, opposing the measure. Proponents of the law argue that such a ban is crucial for public safety, noting that current regulations are challenging to enforce. As authorities explained, while an officer may observe a driver holding a device, they often cannot ascertain whether the driver is using it for texting or, conversely, for permissible activities like navigation.
Senator Tony Bisignano, representing Des Moines, attempted to strengthen the bill by proposing an amendment to eliminate an existing exemption for drivers of farm equipment. His argument emphasized a unified approach to safety on Iowa roads. However, this amendment failed in a vote of 13-35. Critics of the amendment expressed concerns that expanding the bill to include farm equipment might jeopardize its chances of passing in the House. Senator Dan Zumbach, a Republican from Ryan, argued that the legislation should target issues where there are known public safety problems, stating, “I don’t think anyone has a statistic on distracted driving with a piece of farm equipment that created an accident. I tried to find those statistics. They’re not out there.”
The bill decouples Iowa from its outdated regulations and introduces a more cohesive standard for driver behavior concerning technology use on the roads.
In a separate decision, the senators unanimously passed Senate File 378, raising the speed limit from 55 mph to 60 mph on certain undivided paved highways. This measure received a vote of 36-12, with several senators expressing concern about safety implications. Gruenhagen championed the speed limit increase, suggesting it better aligns Iowa with neighboring states. He shared insights from the Department of Public Safety indicating that the average speeds on many highways often exceed the current limit, falling between 62 and 64 mph.
Opposition to the speed limit increase emerged primarily from concerns that a higher limit could lead to higher speeds on the roads. Senator Hermon Quirmbach of Ames articulated these concerns succinctly, stating, “It’s easy to state the reason for opposing this. Two words: speed kills.” Senator Art Staed of Cedar Rapids added a rhetorical flourish of disappointment, remarking on the “hypocrisy” present, given that lawmakers had just voted to improve safety. Despite the apprehensions, the bill passed and now moves to the House for further deliberation.
In another matter, the Iowa Senate confronted the growing tensions surrounding proposed carbon pipeline projects within the state. On the same day, Senator Tony Bisignano also attempted to force a vote on legislation concerning these pipelines, calling for greater discussion on associated issues such as eminent domain and property rights. In a passionate plea, he urged fellow legislators to consider the sentiments of their constituents, telling them, “These people are your constituents. I can’t imagine having my constituents out in that rotunda, day after day, month after month, year after year and ignore them.”
Bisignano described the desperation felt by farmers affected by potential pipeline developments, recalling emotional interactions where farmers expressed their fears of losing their land. Despite his invocation of constituent voices, the motion to bring the issue to the floor for a vote was defeated, with 30 Republican senators rejecting the proposal. Only four Republicans joined 14 Democrats to support Bisignano’s plea for a vote, highlighting a partisan divide on the topic.
Republican Senator Mike Klemish of Spillville, who led the opposition, articulated the GOP's position, arguing that prioritizing the representation of Republican principles ensured Iowans’ values were maintained in legislative discussions. He stated, “The rights of the voters that voted us into this chamber to take control of this chamber and make sure that Iowans are represented by Republican values and principles would be undermined by this.”
This divisive issue over pipeline projects echoes a historical context within the Iowa Senate, as it marked a significant moment of contention about legislative processes. It’s been 14 years since such a showdown occurred; Democrats, who held the majority in 2011, voted down a GOP senator’s attempt to push for a vote on a same-sex marriage ban.
The Iowa Senate's recent decisions navigate the landscape of driver safety and contentious infrastructure projects, highlighting both a commitment to addressing immediate safety concerns and the complexities of representing diverse constituents. As the legislature moves forward, these discussions reflect ongoing debates surrounding technology use in vehicles, highway safety standards, and critical resource management through community engagement.
