House File 738 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 738 BY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES (SUCCESSOR TO HSB 196) A BILL FOR An Act relating to the possession and use of a firearm while on 1 an electric scooter, and providing penalties. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 2465HV (2) 89 js/rn
H.F. 738 Section 1. NEW SECTION . 724.33 Possession and use of a 1 firearm while on an electric scooter. 2 1. For purposes of this section, “electric scooter” means a 3 device that is equipped with handlebars and an electric motor, 4 is designed for the rider to stand on a narrow platform that 5 is slightly above the ground but may contain a seat, and is 6 solely powered by a rider or by an electric motor capable of 7 propelling the device without additional propulsion supplied by 8 the rider at a maximum speed on a paved level surface of no more 9 than twenty-four miles per hour, or both. “Electric scooter” 10 does not include an electric personal assistive mobility 11 device, a bicycle, or any vehicle including any motor vehicle 12 as those terms are defined in section 321.1. 13 2. a. A person shall not operate or ride an electric 14 scooter with a firearm in the person’s possession unless the 15 firearm is unloaded and enclosed in a carrying case, except as 16 otherwise provided. However, a nonambulatory person may carry 17 an unloaded and uncased firearm while operating or riding an 18 electric scooter. 19 b. (1) A person may operate or ride an electric scooter 20 with a loaded firearm, whether concealed or not, without a 21 permit to carry weapons, if the person operates or rides on 22 land owned, possessed, or rented by the person and the person’s 23 conduct is otherwise lawful. 24 (2) A person may operate or ride an electric scooter with 25 a loaded pistol or revolver, whether concealed or not, if the 26 person is operating or riding the electric scooter on land 27 that is not owned, possessed, or rented by the person, and the 28 person’s conduct is otherwise lawful. 29 c. A person shall not discharge a firearm while on an 30 electric scooter, except that a nonambulatory person may 31 discharge a firearm from an electric scooter while lawfully 32 hunting if the person is not operating or riding a moving 33 electric scooter. 34 3. A person who violates this section is guilty of a simple 35 -1- LSB 2465HV (2) 89 js/rn 1/ 2
H.F. 738 misdemeanor punishable by a scheduled fine of one hundred 1 thirty-five dollars. 2 EXPLANATION 3 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 4 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 5 This bill relates to the possession and use of a firearm 6 while on an electric scooter. 7 The bill defines “electric scooter” as a device that is 8 equipped with handlebars and an electric motor, is designed 9 for the rider to stand on a narrow platform that is slightly 10 above the ground but may contain a seat, and is solely powered 11 by a rider or by an electric motor capable of propelling the 12 device without additional propulsion supplied by the rider at a 13 maximum speed on a paved level surface of no more than 24 miles 14 per hour, or both. “Electric scooter” does not include an 15 electric personal assistive mobility device, a bicycle, or any 16 vehicle including any motor vehicle as those terms are defined 17 in Code section 321.1. 18 The bill prohibits a person from operating or riding an 19 electric scooter with a firearm in the person’s possession 20 unless the firearm is unloaded and enclosed in a carrying case, 21 except as provided by the bill when the person’s conduct is 22 otherwise lawful. The bill prohibits a person from discharging 23 a firearm while on an electric scooter. The bill provides 24 that a nonambulatory person may carry an uncased and unloaded 25 firearm while operating or riding an electric scooter. The 26 bill further allows a nonambulatory hunter to discharge a 27 firearm from an electric scooter while lawfully hunting if the 28 person is not operating or riding a moving electric scooter. 29 A person who violates the bill is guilty of a simple 30 misdemeanor punishable by a scheduled fine of $135. 31 -2- LSB 2465HV (2) 89 js/rn 2/ 2