Advocacy Victories

2023: The legislation went into effect as of July 1, 2023 and marked the end of a multi-year effort to get this historic lawsuit abuse legislation passed. The bill places a $5 million cap on noneconomic damages, such as pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of consortium by a spouse, parent, or child. The parties injured and the party’s family jury awards are capped at a maximum of $5 million regardless of the number of plaintiffs in the family. 

The legislation also protects trucking companies against charges of negligent hiring of a driver. The bill states specifically, “there shall not be a civil liability for an employer’s hiring of an employee.” Supporters of the bill believe this is a significant improvement to the current legal landscape, where trial lawyers often accuse the trucking company of failing to uncover past information on their new hires.

On May 12, 2023, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and Lt. Governor Gregg Adams joined IMTA board members, state legislators, and other special guests in the official bill signing for SF 2338 at the Iowa Motor Truck Association headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa.

2017: Codified an executive order from Governor Branstad signed in 2011 which requires a job impact statement and cost benefit analysis prior to publication of the notice of intended action for an administrative rule. The statement must quantify the impact on private sector jobs and employment opportunities in addition to the cost of the rule to agencies, local governments and businesses.

2018:  The law increases Iowa’s section 179 deduction from $25,000 to $70,000 for tax year 2018 for individual taxpayers. The phase-out threshold for this deduction is increased from $200,000 to $280,000.

2017: Texting as a primary offense; as well as Class C felony charges for using a cell phone when involved in a fatal accident.

2017: Trucks using natural gas may now have an additional 2,000 pounds on the tractor to allow for the increase weight in fuel tanks.

2017: Legislation was signed into law nullifying the city and county increases that some local municipalities in Iowa had done in recent months. The legislation makes it clear that the state legislature is responsible for setting a state-wide minimum wage, thus providing employers with predictability. The same legislation preempted local ordinances which could conflict with state law, such as paid family leave, local taxes on soft drinks or candy or the banning of plastic bags.

2017: The law that requires drivers to change lanes, if possible (or slow down if it's not), when approaching stationary emergency vehicles was broadened by the 2017 Iowa Legislature to include utility trucks, as well as garbage and recycling trucks that have safety lights flashing.

2018: Equipment dealers who purchase and lease construction equipment do not have to pay sales tax on the purchase of the equipment, as each time the equipment is leased, sales tax is collected.

2017: Straight trucks in Iowa can now be 45 feet in length, a four-foot increase. There is no increase in weight. Except for Nebraska, all states surrounding Iowa are at the 45-foot requirement.

2018: IMTA was part of a large business coalition that crafted the largest tax cut in Iowa history.

2017 & 2018:  Major reforms that reset the system back to the original intent of the law by reversing several administrative interpretations and court decisions.

2018:  Fraud protection for the self-insured.

2018:  Future Ready Iowa --- Legislation that will further connect K-12 students with community colleges and Iowa businesses, including trucking companies to provide students with valuable first-hand, work-based experience to create a workforce talent pipeline.