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SF 568IOWASession 2025-2026State BillSigned into law

Enacted

Iowa allocates $250,000 for alternative highway study and conditionally permits farm equipment on designated interstate segments

Original title: A bill for an act relating to certain state highways not designated as part of the interstate road system, including the operation of implements of husbandry on such highways, making appropriations, and including applicability provisions.(Formerly SSB 1187 ; See SF 643 .)

Last action · May 27, 2025: Signed by Governor . H.J. 1229 .

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What This Bill Does

Senate File 568 appropriates $250,000 to the Iowa Department of Transportation for a 2025-2026 study to develop an alternative highway route for agricultural equipment. The law allows certain slow-moving farm vehicles to continue operating on portions of U.S. Highway 65 and Iowa Highway 5 if an interstate designation is applied, pending the completion of the alternative route. Additionally, it restricts the Department of Transportation and the State Transportation Commission from pursuing an interstate designation for the highway segment between Interstate 35 and Interstate 80 without a federal weight and size exemption.

Why it matters

Farmers and agricultural operators retain access to specific state highway segments for slow-moving equipment despite future interstate designations, while state funds are directed toward planning an alternative bypass route.

Background

State highways in Iowa that undergo conversion to interstate designation must comply with federal vehicle standards unless specific exemptions are granted. context
Implements of husbandry include specialized agricultural equipment subject to specific speed and size definitions under the Iowa Code. context

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Agricultural operators

Operators of implements of husbandry are permitted to continue using designated highway segments under temporary exceptions until an alternative route is established.

Directly affected

Iowa Department of Transportation

The department receives a $250,000 appropriation to conduct a study, must consult on alternative routes, and is restricted from pursuing certain interstate designations without federal exemptions.

Key Facts

Appropriates $250,000 from the state general fund to the Iowa Department of Transportation for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026, to conduct an alternative highway study.
Prohibits the Department of Transportation and State Transportation Commission from pursuing an interstate designation for the highway segment between Interstate 35 and Interstate 80 unless the U.S. government provides a federal weight and size exemption.
Allows implements of husbandry previously authorized on segments of U.S. Highway 65 and Iowa Highway 5 between U.S. Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 69 to continue operating after an interstate designation occurs.
Repeals the conditional operating exception for implements of husbandry on the specified interstate segment on the date an alternative route is developed, deemed suitable by transportation and agriculture departments, and opened for traffic.

Show all 5 facts

Applies provisions to the designated highway segments on the effective date regardless of subsequent changes to highway designations by state or federal authorities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of the $250,000 appropriation in Senate File 568?

The funds are appropriated to the Iowa Department of Transportation to conduct an alternative highway study to develop and implement an accessible alternative route suitable for implements of husbandry.

Can slow-moving farm equipment use the interstate road system under this law?

Generally, vehicles incapable of maintaining 40 miles per hour are prohibited from the interstate system, but the law creates a conditional exception allowing implements of husbandry to operate on specific overlapping segments of U.S. Highway 65 and Iowa Highway 5 until an alternative route is opened.

When does the exception allowing farm equipment on the highway segment expire?

The exception is repealed on the date an alternative route for implements of husbandry is developed, deemed suitable by the department of transportation in consultation with the department of agriculture and land stewardship, and opened for traffic.

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

37 actions

May 27, 2025HouseEnrolled
Signed by Governor . H.J. 1229 .
May 19, 2025House
Reported correctly enrolled, signed by Speaker and President, and sent to Governor. H.J. 1224 .
May 12, 2025Senate
Withdrawn. S.J. 962 .
May 12, 2025Senate
HF 1025 substituted. S.J. 961 .
May 12, 2025House
Message from Senate. H.J. 1141 .
May 12, 2025Senate
Immediate message. S.J. 963 .

Show 31 earlier actions

May 12, 2025SenateFloor
Passed Senate , yeas 50, nays 0. S.J. 961 .
May 12, 2025Senate
Substituted for SF 643 . S.J. 961 .
Apr 30, 2025Senate
Attached to HF 1025 . S.J. 934 .
Apr 30, 2025Senate
Committee report, approving bill. S.J. 933 .
Apr 30, 2025SenateIntroduced
Introduced, placed on Appropriations calendar. S.J. 932 .
Apr 30, 2025Senate
Attached to SF 643 . S.J. 934 .
Apr 30, 2025Senate
Committee report approving bill, renumbered as SF 643 . S.J. 933 .
Apr 28, 2025House
Withdrawn. H.J. 1073 .
Apr 28, 2025Iowa Legislature
Subcommittee recommends passage.
Apr 23, 2025SenateIntroduced
Read first time, passed on file. S.J. 863 .
Apr 23, 2025House
Message from House. S.J. 863 .
Apr 23, 2025Iowa Legislature
Subcommittee Meeting: 04/28/2025 12:30PM Lobbyist Lounge.
Apr 22, 2025House
Immediate message. H.J. 1033 .
Apr 22, 2025HouseFloor
Passed House , yeas 90, nays 2. H.J. 1027 .
Apr 17, 2025HouseIntroduced
Introduced, placed on Appropriations calendar. H.J. 987 .
Apr 17, 2025Iowa Legislature
Committee report approving bill, renumbered as HF 1025 .
Apr 16, 2025House
Committee vote: Yeas 24. Nays, 0. Excused, 1. H.J. 949 .
Apr 16, 2025House
Committee report, recommending amendment and passage. H.J. 949 .
Apr 9, 2025Iowa Legislature
Subcommittee recommends passage.
Apr 8, 2025House
Subcommittee Meeting: 04/09/2025 8:30AM House Lounge.
Apr 8, 2025House
Subcommittee: Bossman, Bagniewski and Gehlbach. H.J. 917 .
Mar 12, 2025Senate
Subcommittee: Koelker, Bousselot, and Petersen. S.J. 507 .
Mar 11, 2025SenateCommittee
Referred to Appropriations. S.J. 480 .
Mar 10, 2025Senate
Committee report, approving bill. S.J. 467 .
Mar 10, 2025SenateIntroduced
Introduced, placed on calendar. S.J. 459 .
Mar 6, 2025Iowa Legislature
Committee report approving bill, renumbered as SF 568 .
Mar 3, 2025Iowa Legislature
Subcommittee recommends passage.
Feb 25, 2025Senate
Subcommittee Meeting: 02/26/2025 9:30AM Senate Lounge.
Feb 25, 2025Iowa Legislature
Subcommittee: Bousselot, Klimesh, and Petersen.
Feb 25, 2025Iowa LegislatureIntroduced
Introduced, referred to Commerce.
Feb 13, 2025HouseIntroduced
Introduced, referred to Appropriations. H.J. 319 .

Version history

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Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

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