• ARRL Iowa Section Wins Ham Exemption to Handsfree Law

    From ARRL de WD1CKS@VERT/WLARB to QST on Wednesday, April 09, 2025 20:32:18
    04/09/2025

    ARRL volunteers in the Iowa Section have cause to celebrate. Their state-level
    advocacy work on behalf of amateur radio has resulted in an exemption to the
    state's handsfree law that covers ham operators.

    Iowa Senate File 22 (SF22), a bill addressing distracted driving, had been in
    development since 2020. Former ARRL Section Manager Lelia Garner, WAOUIG, and
    Iowa Section State Government Liaison Alan Erickson, WBOOAV, played a crucial
    role in fostering and maintaining key legislative relationships. Over the
    course of five years, they navigated the legislative process to ensure the
    continued exemption for amateur radio operators.

    The COVID-19 pandemic and political opposition to the measure ground the bill
    to a halt, but the ARRL Iowa Section volunteers continued to engage in the
    process and ensure that amateur radio was represented as the legislature
    finally took the bill back up. The final language of the bill included, "The
    provisions of this subsection do not apply to ... A person using a two-way
    radio transmitter or receiver who is licensed with the federal communications
    commission in amateur radio service."

    Being proactive about sharing the good work amateur radio operators do was key.
    "We presented a carefully crafted exemption proposal, backed by evidence of our
    contributions as a radio service," said Garner.

    The texting bill (SF22) passed the Iowa Senate with a vote of 47-1 on March 18,
    2025, and the Iowa House passed it on March 26, 2025 with a vote 54-11. On
    April 2, 2025, it was signed by Governor Kim Reynolds and goes into effect July
    1, 2025.

    The process encouraged Erickson. "Every legislator I spoke with appreciated the
    public service that licensed amateur radio provides. They also acknowledged the
    responsibility demonstrated by amateur radio operators. I was impressed by
    their willingness to exempt amateur radio from their texting bill, and was also
    humbled that we have a duty to preserve this awesome reputation."

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