CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Handsfree driving legislation has made its way to Governor Kim Reynolds’ desk. It comes after the Iowa House passed the bill Wednesday, approximately seven years after it was first proposed.

And for Trooper Bob Conrad with the Iowa State Patrol, it’s been a long time coming.

“I think this is going to make a difference. It’s going to save lives. It’s going to make a lot of people happy,” he said. “To me, passing a law like this is one of those things that shows that we’re all working together for a common goal to make sure people go home at the end of the day.”

Although the bill has yet to be signed into law, Governor Kim Reynolds expressed her support for it in her Condition of the State earlier this year.

Currently, Iowa’s law allows drivers to physically manipulate their phones to make a call or check their maps when driving.

Under this new legislation, drivers can still use their phones, but instead of physically dialing the numbers to make a phone call, they will only be permitted to do it on a handsfree mode, such as Bluetooth or voice command, or with a single touch. The same thing goes for checking maps or sending text messages.

Otherwise, drivers could face a $100 fine, or even more if the violation hurts or kills somebody.

And while Conrad says he understands that it will take some time for drivers to adjust, it’s not impossible.

“This is not something that stops you from using your phone completely. It doesn’t keep you from getting the emergency phone call from your your children or or something else at work you need. It it just is about doing it better.” he said.

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DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa Capitol Bureau) – Regardless of whether you own your home or rent, you could get property tax relief, Iowa Democrats say following the release of their new plan.

This comes as Republican lawmakers are working on a sweeping overhaul of the tax system.

During a Thursday press conference, Rep. Dave Jacoby (D-Coralville) said when they’re running for office, property taxes are one of the top issues voters bring up.

“Their frustration is coming to a boiling point because everything we’ve done to date has been totally ineffective,” he said.

Iowa House Democrats’ new plan would give homeowners a $1,000 rebate check. Renters would get a $500 check. It would also freeze property taxes for people 65 and older.

Iowa House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst says they want to get relief to homeowners now, rather than waiting a year or two for Republicans to work out their property tax relief plan.

“This is our way to let homeowners and renters finally see property tax decreases or their money coming back to them instead of waiting for another year, another two years, to sit around and talk about the plan and meanwhile their rates are going up,” she said.

The money for the Democrats’ plan would come from the Taxpayer Relief Fund, which has $3.75 billion in it currently. Iowa Republican House Speaker Pat Grassley says that fund is supposed to be used to lower income taxes.

“We know right now that that Taxpayer Relief Fund helps smooth any unforeseen things that happen as we reduce the tax to 3.8 (percent). So, I’d want to see what that direct proposal would look like and how that would impact the income tax cut,” he said.

Homeowners’ would see their property tax increases capped at two percent per year under the Republican plan. Seniors would get a tax credit and veterans would see their exemption increase. The plan also phases out rollbacks and will give homeowners a $25,000 annual exemption.

Grassley says their plan needs more work and Republicans will take their time to make sure they get it right.

“When you’re looking at such a system that’s been in place as long as it has, it’s going to take time and we need to be very deliberate in our approach to make sure we’re not only providing relief, but that it’s something that’s sustainable as well,” he said.

Jacoby can’t yet say whether the rebate checks would be a one time payment or yearly. He says he’s still waiting on some projections, but his goal is to do these rebates over the next three to five years.

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Conner Hendricks covers state government and politics for Gray Media-owned stations in Iowa. Email him at conner.hendricks@gray.tv; and follow him on Facebook at Conner Hendricks TV on X/Twitter @ConnerReports, and on TikTok @ConnerReports.

Copyright 2025 KCRG. All rights reserved.

• Following Benson Hill’s bankruptcy filing, the Iowa Department of Agriculture is urging farmers who might have experienced losses to file claims for reimbursement.
• The ag tech and seed company, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on March 20, had a state grain dealer license.
• Farmers have 120 days to file a claim with the Iowa Grain Depositors and Sellers Indemnity Fund, which can cover up to 90% of losses, with a maximum of $300,000 per claim.

As St. Louis-based Benson Hill files for bankruptcy, the Iowa Department of Agriculture is encouraging Iowa farmers who experience losses tied to the ag tech and seed company, which holds a state grain dealer license, to file claims for reimbursement through a state indemnity fund.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture on Wednesday notified farmers that the company had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy March 20 in Delaware. They may have 120 days to file a claim to help cover any losses.

The company, which plans to sell its assets, said it had received court approval to obtain up to $11 million in financing to continue operations during the bankruptcy. Altogether, nine Benson Hill companies filed for bankruptcy protection this month, reporting $100 million to $500 million in both assets and liabilities.

Benson Hill said Wednesday it has a seed field services operation in Bondurant. The company said the facility continues to operate and “all existing contracts and service agreements remain in place.”

Benson Hill sold a soybean processing plant in Creston in southwest Iowa about a year ago to Omaha, Nebraska-based White River Soy Processing for $72 million. The company said it was continuing its plan to transition to an “asset-light business model backed by world-class soybean germplasm and competitively advantaged technology.”

White River Soy Processing also purchased a Benson Hill soybean crush facility in Seymour, Indiana, in 2023 for $36 million.

The Iowa ag department said farmers who have not been paid for grain sold to a Benson Hill operation before March 20 may file a claim with the Iowa Grain Depositors and Sellers Indemnity Fund. Created by the Iowa Legislature in 1986 during the Farm Crisis to provide financial protection to farmers, the fund will pay 90% of a loss on grain up to a maximum of $300,000 per claim.

Last year, the department notified Iowa farmers that they would need to pay a quarter of a penny on each bushel of grain sold to help replenish the fund, which protects them when elevators and other grain buyers file for bankruptcy. Filings in 2021 and 2022 by Pipeline Foods LLC of Fridley, Minnesota, Global Processing Inc. of Kanawha and B&B Farm Store of Jesup had dropped the fund’s balance to about $312,000. The fee kicks in when the fund falls below a $3 million minimum.

If farmers have questions, they may contact the Iowa Department of Agriculture Grain Warehouse Bureau at 515-281-5987. For more information on Benson Hill’s bankruptcy, go to cases.stretto.com/bensonhill.

Donnelle Eller covers agriculture, the environment and energy for the Register. Reach her at deller@registermedia.com.