Senate File 2109 was passed during Iowa’s 2024 legislative session and took effect on July 1, 2024. This law changed Iowa Code section 321.194 by replacing the Minor School License (MSL) with a new type of license called the Special Minor’s Restricted License (SMRL).
This guide explains what’s new with the SMRL, including:
- Who is eligible to apply.
- What driving privileges the license allows.
- What penalties or sanctions may apply.
What is SMRL?
SMRL allows students enrolled in public and accredited private schools, and home-schooled students to drive unsupervised using the most direct and accessible route to:
- Their school of enrollment or instructional location.
- School-sponsored extracurricular activities.
- Farm work.
- Employment.
Driving Limits for Students with a SMRL
Driving is only allowed within 25 miles of the student’s residence for all purposes.
Public school students residing within their school district of enrollment may travel to school for the purpose of attending classes only, regardless of the distance.
Driving is allowed one hour before and one hour after scheduled classes, extracurricular activities, and/or work shift.
Consent Form and Location Rules
The superintendent or principal must certify the student's enrollment by completing the Affidavit for Special Minor's Restricted License (Form 430021).
Following the law changes effective July 1, 2024, a school can no longer request that a student's SMRL be removed/suspended for any reason other than the student is no longer enrolled at that school. The law also says that the school official who signs the Affidavit for a Special Minor’s Restricted License (Form 430021) is not responsible for actions of the student which pertain to the use of the Special Minor's Restricted License.
Students must carry the Parental Consent for Approved Driving Locations for SMRL (Form 430022) while driving and present it to law enforcement if requested.
If a student lives at more than one address, all of those residences must be listed on Form 430022. The form must also include approved driving locations and parent contact information.
SMRL Penalties
For each traffic ticket, license restriction violation, or at-fault accident, the student will:
- Lose their license for 3 months (mandatory suspension).
- Be delayed an additional 3 months per violation before they can upgrade to an intermediate license following their 16th birthday.
Determining whether or not the student caused a crash is based on the “Contributing Circumstances” section of the officer’s accident report (Form 433003).
The student must also maintain a clean driving record for 6 months prior to upgrading to an Intermediate license.