HF 904 (LSB 2921HV (2) 91)

HOUSE FILE 904

BY  COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

(SUCCESSOR TO HSB 297)

(As Amended and Passed by the House 2025-03-25)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to motor vehicle accident reports, including the amount of property damage necessary for a report, the period in which a law enforcement officer must forward a report to the department of transportation, and resulting suspensions of driver’s licenses, registrations, and operating privileges.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 321.266, subsections 2 and 3, Code 2025, are amended to read as follows:
   2.  The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person, or total property damage to an apparent extent of one five thousand five hundred dollars or more, shall, within seventy-two hours after the accident, forward a written report of the accident to the department within seventy-two hours after the accident. However, such report is not required when if the accident is investigated by a law enforcement agency.
   3.  Every law enforcement officer who, in the regular course of duty, investigates a motor vehicle accident of which report must be made as required in subsections 1 and 2, either at the time of and at the scene of the accident or thereafter by interviewing participants or witnesses shall, within twenty-four hours after completing such investigation, forward a written report of such accident to the department.
    Sec. 2.  Section 321A.5, subsection 1, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  The department shall, immediately or within sixty days after the receipt of a report of a motor vehicle accident within this state which has resulted in bodily injury or death to any person, or property damage to the property of any one person in the amount of one five thousand five hundred dollars or more, suspend the license of each operator and all registrations of each owner of a motor vehicle in any manner involved in the accident, and if the operator is a nonresident the privilege of operating a motor vehicle within this state, and if the owner is a nonresident the privilege of the use within this state of any motor vehicle owned by the owner, unless the operator or owner or both shall deposit security in a sum which shall be sufficient in the judgment of the department to satisfy any judgment or judgments for damages resulting from the accident as may be recovered against the operator or owner; provided notice of the suspension shall be sent by the department to the operator and owner not less than ten days prior to the effective date of the suspension and shall state the amount required as security.
    Sec. 3.  Section 321I.11, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   321I.11  Accident reports.
   If an all-terrain vehicle is involved in an accident resulting in injury or death to anyone any person, or property damage amounting to one five thousand five hundred dollars or more, either the operator or someone acting for the operator shall immediately notify the county sheriff or another law enforcement agency in the state. If the accident occurred on public land, public ice, or a designated riding trail under the jurisdiction of the commission, the operator shall file with the commission a report of the accident, within seventy-two hours, containing information as the commission may require. All other accidents shall be reported as required under section 321.266.