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Iowa House Approves Raising Two-Lane Highway Speed Limit to 60 MPH
The bill now heads to the Senate for final approval before going to the governor.
Apr. 2, 2026 at 3:07pm
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The Iowa House has voted to raise the speed limit on two-lane state highways from 55 mph to 60 mph. The bill passed with strong bipartisan support, with House Speaker Pat Grassley noting that many Iowans, especially those in rural areas, have long requested this change. The Senate had previously approved a similar measure, and the House version now heads back to the Senate for review before potentially being sent to the governor.
Why it matters
This legislation reflects an ongoing debate around balancing traffic safety and driver convenience, particularly in rural parts of the state. Proponents argue the higher limit better reflects modern vehicle capabilities and driving habits, while critics are concerned about the risks of increased speeds on narrower roads.
The details
The bill passed the Iowa House by a vote of 76-16. It would raise the speed limit on two-lane state highways from 55 mph to 60 mph. The Senate had previously approved a similar measure, but the House made a slight change, so the bill must now go back to the Senate for review before potentially heading to the governor's desk.
- The Iowa House voted on the bill on April 2, 2026.
- The Iowa Senate had previously approved a similar measure.
The players
Pat Grassley
The Speaker of the Iowa House of Representatives, who noted strong support for the speed limit increase from many Iowans, especially in rural areas.
What they’re saying
“We've heard from a lot of Iowans, you know I think maybe even more so from rural Iowa. As long as I've been around here there's been that request of the legislature and I think it maybe is the perfect storm at this point in time to see just that slight increase.”
— Pat Grassley, Speaker of the Iowa House of Representatives
What’s next
The bill must now go back to the Iowa Senate for review before potentially being sent to the governor for final approval.
The takeaway
This legislation reflects an ongoing debate in Iowa around balancing traffic safety and driver convenience, particularly in rural parts of the state. While proponents argue the higher limit better reflects modern vehicle capabilities, critics remain concerned about the risks of increased speeds on narrower roads.
