---
type: "Bill"
title: "A bill for an act relating to the use of electronic communication devices to write, send, or view electronic messages while driving as a primary offense, and making penalties applicable. (Formerly SSB 1002.) Effective 7-1-17."
description: "A bill for an act relating to the use of electronic communication devices to write, send, or view electronic messages while driving as a primary offense, and making penalties applicable. (Formerly SSB 1002.) Effective 7-1-17."
jurisdiction: "us/states/ia"
legislature: "Iowa General Assembly"
session: "2017-2018"
identifier: "SF 234"
citation: "Iowa SF 234 (2017-2018)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: ["driving", "motor vehicles", "telecommunications", "text messaging", "transportation", "vehicles"]
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: []
version_count: 6
action_count: 24
vote_count: 3
first_action: "2017-02-13"
last_action: "2017-04-17"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/3a4f1372-2c83-4575-8087-7c1970328767"
source_url: "https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/billTracking/billHistory?billName=SF 234&ga=87"
source_hash: "71cee25a38f8b67190448c6c86f088179dbbfc28ce9a2c04b0ca14c44444afed"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-ia"]
---

# Iowa SF 234 (2017-2018) — A bill for an act relating to the use of electronic communication devices to write, send, or view electronic messages while driving as a primary offense, and making penalties applicable. (Formerly SSB 1002.) Effective 7-1-17.

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **Introduced** (filed) — [source](https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGI/87/attachments/SF234.html)
2. **Amendment H-1315** (committee substitute) — [source](https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/AMDI/87/H1315.pdf)
3. **Amendment H-1318** (committee substitute) — [source](https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/AMDI/87/H1318.pdf)
4. **Amendment S-3222** (committee substitute) — [source](https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/AMDI/87/S3222.pdf)
5. **Reprinted** (committee substitute) — [source](https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGR/87/attachments/SF234.html)
6. **Enrolled** (enrolled) — [source](https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGE/87/attachments/SF234.html)

## Votes

- Shall the bill pass? — **90–6** (pass) · lower
- Shall the rules be suspended to consider amendment H-1315? — **43–53** (fail) · lower
- Shall the bill pass? — **43–6** (pass) · upper

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2017-02-13** Introduced, placed on calendar. `introduction`
- **2017-02-13** Committee report, approving bill.
- **2017-02-15** Fiscal note.
- **2017-03-22** Amendment S-3222 filed, adopted. `amendment-introduction, amendment-passage`
- **2017-03-22** Passed Senate, ayes 43, nays 6. `passage`
- **2017-03-27** Explanation of vote.
- **2017-03-22** Immediate message.
- **2017-03-22** Message from Senate.
- **2017-03-23** Read first time, referred to Transportation. `reading-1`
- **2017-03-23** Subcommittee: Worthan, Bacon and Olson.
- **2017-03-29** Committee report, recommending passage. `committee-passage`
- **2017-04-06** Placed on calendar under unfinished business.
- **2017-04-06** Amendment H-1315 filed. `amendment-introduction`
- **2017-04-10** Amendment H-1318 filed, withdrawn. `amendment-introduction`
- **2017-04-10** Point of order raised on H-1315, ruled not germane.
- **2017-04-10** Motion to suspend rules to consider H-1315.
- **2017-04-10** Motion to suspend rules failed.
- **2017-04-10** Passed House, ayes 90, nays 6. `passage`
- **2017-04-11** Explanation of vote.
- **2017-04-10** Immediate message.
- **2017-04-11** Message from House.
- **2017-04-14** Reported correctly enrolled, signed by President and Speaker.
- **2017-04-14** Sent to Governor. `executive-receipt`
- **2017-04-17** Signed by Governor. `executive-signature`

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/3a4f1372-2c83-4575-8087-7c1970328767`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Iowa legislature records).