In recent weeks, a highly discussed bill made it to the desk of Governor Kim Reynolds.

House Representative for District 23 Ray Sorensen says that the bill was one that he was happy to see make it through both chambers, and tells Raccoon Valley Radio why he feels that way.

“We’ve all witnessed drivers distracted by their phones, whether it’s texting, scrolling, or (being) otherwise engaged. I personally witnessed a man killed right in front of me by a young man who was on his phone. While Iowa already bans texting and driving, the reality is that phones offer countless distractions beyond texting, and this has made the current law difficult for law enforcement to enforce this effectively.”

Sorensen mentions that the bill expands the ban to all uses of electronic devices while driving, with a practical exception for hands free usage. He adds that phones can still also be used in the case of emergency situations, where staying safe may require the use of a phone. Sorensen explains that there will be something of a grace period when the bill first goes into effect, where from July 1st to January 1, 2026 law enforcement will hand out warnings, and after the start of the new calendar year tickets will be issued.