Iowa has some of the nation's toughest license-renewal rules for older motorists, despite mixed evidence that stricter requirements improve safety.

Why it matters: Iowa's rules highlight a broader debate over whether age alone is a fair basis for driver's license requirements.

Driving the news: The driving record of Paul Pelosi, the husband of former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, is drawing renewed scrutiny after police say the 86-year-old struck an unoccupied parked car in California on July 3 and left the scene without providing the required information.

• He was cited last week for misdemeanor hit-and-run and for making an unlawful turn.

State of play: Iowa licenses generally last eight years, but terms begin to shorten at age 73 and cannot extend beyond a driver's 80th birthday.

• Drivers 78 and older receive two-year licenses and must renew in person because online renewal is unavailable starting at age 70.

The big picture: Iowa has the second-youngest mandatory threshold for a two-year-or-shorter renewal cycle, behind Rhode Island's requirement that starts at age 75.

• Five other states mandate renewal every two years or more frequently for some older drivers: New Mexico, Hawaii, Indiana, Texas and Illinois, whose new schedule takes effect July 1, 2027, according to IIHS.

Reality check: Research on age-based renewal rules is mixed, per IIHS.

• One study found no lower fatality rates in states with shorter renewal periods or testing requirements, while others found benefits to road tests and in-person renewal or vision screening.

By the numbers: The number of licensed U.S. drivers ages 65 and older grew by 41% over the past decade, from about 38.4 million in 2014 to 54.4 million in 2024, according to Federal Highway Administration data.

• Older adults accounted for nearly 23% of licensed drivers in 2024, up from about 18% in 2014.

Zoom in: Iowa had nearly 554,000 licensed drivers ages 65 and older — about 23% of the state's 2.39 million licensed drivers.

• More than 107,000 were 80 or older, including nearly 45,000 who were 85 or older, according to the highway administration.

What they're saying: Sam Wells, a West Des Moines resident and senior advocate, tells Axios that Iowa's rules unfairly burden older drivers with clean records.

• "I believe Iowa senior drivers suffer from age discrimination," Wells said.

Yes, but: AARP Iowa, the state's most prominent advocacy group for seniors, has not taken a position on changing the law, Paige Yontz, a state advocacy manager, tells Axios.

Behind the scenes: Iowa's latest substantive relaxation of its older-driver rules took effect in 2021, when the state raised the age threshold for two-year licenses from 72 to 78.

What we're watching: Whether Iowa lawmakers take another look at the state's blanket age requirements.

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Central Iowa homeowners have claimed almost all 60 free smart irrigation controllers in a pilot program testing how to ease summer water demand.

Why it matters: Central Iowa Water Works (CIWW) is testing whether small changes in lawn watering can deliver meaningful relief during periods of strained regional supply.

Catch up quick: CIWW developed the pilot to compare fixed-schedule irrigation with weather-responsive technology and to measure potential water savings.

• The $42,410 program, launched a week ago with unspent funds from last year, will not increase future water rates, executive director Tami Madsen tells Axios.

How it works: WiFi-connected devices replace fixed sprinkler timers and automatically adjust watering based on weather data, landscape conditions and predicted needs.

• Participants share irrigation information, providing CIWW with data to evaluate water savings and the effect on peak summer demand.
• The program can also shift watering schedules by up to 48 hours in response to expected high regional demand.

People who didn't receive one of the free controls can still participate in the pilot program by purchasing their own devices, which cost under $300.

Context: CIWW remains under Stage II water-use restrictions due to elevated nitrate levels, with homeowners asked to reduce outdoor watering by 50% and to follow an even-odd schedule.

• Businesses and governments were allowed to resume lawn watering yesterday after a ban and now follow the same restrictions as homeowners.

Stunning stat: Lawn watering can increase the metro's daily water use by 40%, from 50 million to 70 million gallons, according to a 2025 DSM Water Works estimate.

The big picture: Weather-based irrigation programs have long been used in Western communities to reduce water consumption.

• The EPA estimates that some controllers can save an average home up to 15,000 gallons annually — enough to flush a toilet about 30 times a day for a year, according to the CIWW.

What we're watching: Whether the results persuade CIWW to expand the program or to offer rebates for homeowner-purchased controllers.

✈️ Des Moines International Airport is exploring a new Transportation Security Administration "Gold+" initiative to speed up security screenings. (KCCI)

🏥 Gov. Kim Reynolds is urging the University of Iowa to roll back higher patient bills at Mission Cancer and Blood amid complaints about steep fee increases. (DSM Register)

⚽ Krause Group has acquired a majority stake in a Portuguese soccer club. (WHO-TV)

💰 Democrat Rob Sand reported a record-breaking fundraising period of $9.38 million in the Iowa governor's race, while Republican Zach Lahn raised $6.3 million, marking a significant increase after winning the GOP primary. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

🎃 Jason here: Linh is on RAGBRAI and has tasked me this week with babysitting Hope #1 and #2 — the giant pumpkins she's trying to grow and enter in this year's Iowa State Fair.

State of play: I got a text from her just before my first visit saying her dad thinks the biggest pumpkin on Hope #1 is dying.

• YUP.

What's next: I'll write more about this DSM drama later this week.

• I'll just say that yesterday's sweltering heat and evening storms didn't help matters.