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Read. Follow. Verify.Iowa Bill Establishes Class D Felony for Crossing State Lines During Police Pursuit
Last action · March 2, 2026: Fiscal note .Sponsor: Mark Lofgren
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What This Bill Would Do
A new driver offense called is established for motorists who cross a state border while being pursued by a peace officer without yielding. The measure also authorizes Iowa law enforcement officers to continue into another state, make arrests, and subject the detained driver to rules.
Drivers fleeing law enforcement across state borders face felony criminal charges carrying up to five years of confinement and fines between $1,025 and $10,245, while Iowa peace officers gain explicit statutory authority to cross state lines during pursuits.
- Iowa Code section 321.279 governs the existing penalties and offenses related to eluding or attempting to elude a pursuing law enforcement vehicle. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
motor vehicle drivers
Drivers face new felony criminal charges, potential imprisonment up to five years, and financial penalties for crossing state borders during a police pursuit.
peace officers
Officers gain statutory authorization to continue vehicle pursuits across state lines and arrest suspects in neighboring jurisdictions.
Key Facts
- A driver commits aggravated eluding, a class D felony, by knowingly crossing a state border into another state without yielding while being pursued by an Iowa peace officer.
- A class D felony is punishable by confinement for no more than five years and a fine ranging from $1,025 to $10,245.
- Iowa peace officers in fresh pursuit of a driver suspected of eluding or aggravated eluding may continue pursuit into another state and make an arrest subject to local laws.
- Fresh pursuit does not require immediate or continuous visual contact, provided the pursuit is conducted without unreasonable delay.
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- Arrests made in another state must be reported promptly to local authorities, and the arrested driver is subject to extradition under chapter 820.
Frequently Asked Questions
What constitutes aggravated eluding under this bill?
What are the penalties for a class 'D' felony conviction under the bill?
Does an Iowa peace officer need continuous visual contact to maintain fresh pursuit across state lines?
What else do you want to know?
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently on floor. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Passed.
Procedural history
7 actions- Mar 2, 2026Iowa LegislatureFiscal note .
- Feb 3, 2026Iowa LegislaturePlaced on calendar.
- Feb 3, 2026SenateCommittee report, recommending passage. S.J. 193 .
- Jan 21, 2026Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee recommends passage.
- Jan 14, 2026Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee Meeting: 01/21/2026 8:30AM Room 217 Conference Room.
- Jan 14, 2026SenateSubcommittee: Lofgren, Shipley, and Townsend. S.J. 90 .
Show 1 earlier action
- Jan 12, 2026SenateIntroducedIntroduced, referred to Transportation. S.J. 40 .
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Sources
www.legis.iowa.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment30Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz35Current news / social attention level
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