Capitol Notebook: Iowa House passes English-only driver’s license exam bill

DES MOINES — Driver’s license exams in Iowa would be offered only in English under a bill passed Thursday by the Iowa House, eliminating the option for non-English speakers to take the tests in other languages.

House File 2102 would require all driver’s license examinations to be administered exclusively in English, removing a current exemption that allows the tests to be offered in more than 20 languages. Supporters say the change aligns licensing with Iowa’s existing law designating English as the state’s official language.

Rep. Josh Meggers, R-Grundy Center, who managed the bill on the floor, said the measure is “straightforward and narrowly tailored,” arguing it promotes consistency in state policy and improves public safety by ensuring drivers understand traffic laws “as written and posted.”

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Democrats pushed back, warning the policy could lead to more unlicensed and uninsured drivers on Iowa roads. Rep. Jeff Cooling, D-Cedar Rapids, said there is no evidence that offering exams in multiple languages increases crash risk and warned the bill would instead push more people to drive without licenses or insurance.

Opponents argue that allowing tests in other languages instead helps ensure drivers understand the rules of the road.

“By locking the front door of the (Department of Transportation) with a language barrier, we are choosing to make our roads less safe and our insurance rates higher,” Cooling said.

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Rep. Adam Zabner, D-Iowa City, also rejected the public safety argument, saying the bill “will not make us safer nor more free” and pointed to Iowa’s history of accommodating multiple languages to ensure broader participation in civic life.

Opponents more broadly warned the policy could affect legal residents and workers, including participants in federal H-2A and H-2B visa programs, who often need driver’s licenses for agricultural and construction jobs. Rep. Angel Ramirez, D-Cedar Rapids, said the policy would create barriers for workers critical to Iowa’s economy and discourage some from seeking licenses altogether.

Meggers countered that maintaining public safety depends on drivers fully understanding the rules of the road.

The bill passed 58-30, with four Republicans joining Democrats in opposition. It now heads to the Iowa Senate for consideration.

Bill would create human trafficking task force

Iowa would create a statewide human trafficking task force with arrest authority and a dedicated prosecution team under a bill passed unanimously Thursday by the House.

House File 2565 establishes the Iowa Human Trafficking Task Force within the Department of Public Safety, giving it full authority to investigate cases, make arrests and coordinate antitrafficking efforts across the state. The unit would operate around the clock and serve as the primary point of contact for trafficking investigations in Iowa.

Under the bill, the task force would include a deputy director with specialized training, eight investigators assigned across four regions of the state, four victim advocates, four emergency dispatchers to staff a dedicated office and call center and an intelligence and evidence officer focused on trafficking and cybercrime.

The legislation also directs the Attorney General’s Office to create a Human Trafficking Special Prosecution Team, with four assistant attorneys general — one in each region — dedicated solely to prosecuting trafficking cases in coordination with the task force.

Rep. Mark Thompson, R-Clarion, who managed the bill, said the measure is designed to address gaps in Iowa’s current response and build a coordinated, rapid-response system. “Our current effort … is well intended, but under resourced,” Thompson said.

Thompson said the regional approach — dividing the state into quadrants — would improve coverage in both rural and urban areas, with teams of investigators, prosecutors and victim advocates working together. The bill also establishes a 24/7 operations center to respond to active trafficking situations statewide.

Supporters said human trafficking often involves organized networks, interstate activity and cybercrime, requiring a centralized and specialized response. The legislation also emphasizes victim support, requiring safeguards for data sharing and embedding trained advocates within each regional team.

Thompson said the goal is not only to prosecute traffickers but also to better identify victims and hold buyers accountable. “The goal is to turn victims into survivors,” he said.

The bill passed the House 89-0 and now heads to the Iowa Senate for consideration.

House backs expansion of inpatient psychiatric beds

The number of inpatient psychiatric beds would be doubled under legislation unanimously advanced Thursday by Iowa House lawmakers.

House File 2292 also would require the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to apply to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for a waiver of Medicaid’s institution for mental diseases exclusion so the state may use Medicaid funds for the increase in inpatient psychiatric beds.

Rep. Ann Meyer, R-Fort Dodge, amended the legislation to push back the application date a year from July 2026 to July 2027 to align with President Donald Trump’s executive order aiming to “restore order to American cities” and redirect federal resources toward programs that tackle substance abuse.

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Rep. Austin Baeth, D-Des Moines, noted the importance of increasing access to mental health care in Iowa, but expressed concern over delaying the implementation date.

There are currently 909 licensed inpatient psychiatric beds in Iowa as of January, according to Health and Human Services.

Lawmakers debate records privacy for elected officials

Iowa House lawmakers advanced House File 2061, which would allow Iowa’s members of Congress, statewide elected officials and members of the Legislature to request their name be redacted from public county assessor or county recorder documents.

Supporters of the bill argue that it would help increase the safety of lawmakers, as threats against lawmakers and concerns about political violence are on the rise.

Rep. Dan Gosa, D-Davenport, introduced an amendment that would add local elected officials, including city council and school board members to the eligible list.

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Gosa, who previously served as a board member for Davenport Community Schools, said his kids were followed to school, and he has received threats.

“I received numerous death threats. My wife was followed, picking our kids up from school and things like that. Several of our board members received death threats to their place of employment,” Gosa said. “I feel very strongly about this, that we need to protect local elected officials as well.”

The amendment failed to be adopted. Lawmakers passed the legislation 86-1 with Rep. Tom Determann, R-Camanche, voting against it.

Reynolds honors Easterseals’ 100th anniversary

In honor of Easterseals Iowa’s 100th anniversary, Gov. Kim Reynolds declared Thursday “Easterseals Iowa Centennial Celebration Day.” She marked the occasion with an event in the governor’s formal office at the Iowa Capitol.

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Easterseals provides supports and services to individuals with disabilities. The nonprofit organization says it serves more than 3,000 Iowans annually.

Easterseals operates Camp Sunnyside in Des Moines, a summer camp for individuals with disabilities or special needs.

“For a century now, this organization has been there at life’s most critical moments, supporting children learning to navigate the world, helping adults build independence and confidence, and truly walking alongside families as trusted partners and advocates,” Reynolds said. “One of the things that makes Easterseals truly special is not just the services that they provide — and they are, as I just indicated, unbelievable — but it really is the way that they provide them. They provide them with compassion, respect and an unwavering focus on each individual’s potential.”

Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau