House Study Bill 205 - Introduced HOUSE FILE _____ BY (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS BILL BY CHAIRPERSON INGELS) A BILL FOR An Act relating to hunting by persons with disabilities arising 1 from military service. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 2517HC (2) 90 js/rn

H.F. _____ Section 1. Section 35A.14, Code 2023, is amended by adding 1 the following new subsection: 2 NEW SUBSECTION . 4A. Moneys appropriated to or received 3 by the department for purposes of this section may be used 4 to issue a grant for the purchase of an archery season deer 5 hunting license and tag by a veteran who is eligible under 6 subsection 4. A veteran receiving a license and tag under 7 this subsection is authorized to use a crossbow in any archery 8 season while hunting with the tag pursuant to section 483A.8. 9 Sec. 2. Section 483A.4, Code 2023, is amended by adding the 10 following new subsection: 11 NEW SUBSECTION . 3. The person served in the armed forces of 12 the United States and has an injury arising from that person’s 13 military service. 14 Sec. 3. Section 483A.8, subsection 8, Code 2023, is amended 15 to read as follows: 16 8. a. The commission shall adopt a rule rules permitting 17 a resident to use a crossbow for taking deer during the late 18 season that is designated for taking deer by muzzleloading 19 rifle or muzzleloading pistol. 20 b. The commission shall adopt rules allowing a person 21 who has a permanent disability due to an injury specified in 22 section 483A.4, subsection 3, to use a crossbow while hunting 23 with a tag designated for use in any archery season. 24 EXPLANATION 25 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 26 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 27 This bill relates to hunting by persons with disabilities 28 arising from military service. Current law provides a 29 definition of “permanent disability” for the purposes of 30 obtaining a hunting or fishing license. A resident who has a 31 permanent disability may purchase a hunting or fur harvester 32 license that does not include the wildlife habitat fee. 33 Additionally, a resident who has a permanent disability whose 34 income falls below the federal poverty guidelines may receive a 35 -1- LSB 2517HC (2) 90 js/rn 1/ 2

H.F. _____ free annual fishing or combined hunting and fishing license. 1 The bill adds a person who served in the armed forces of the 2 United States and has an injury arising from that person’s 3 military service to the definition of “permanent disability”. 4 The bill requires the natural resource commission to adopt 5 rules allowing a person who has a permanent disability based 6 on an injury arising from that person’s military service to 7 use a crossbow while hunting with a tag designated for use in 8 any archery season. Moneys appropriated to or received by the 9 Iowa department of veterans affairs for purposes of funding the 10 injured veterans grant program may be used to issue a grant for 11 the purchase of an archery season deer hunting license and tag 12 by a veteran who is otherwise eligible to receive a grant under 13 the program. A veteran receiving a license and tag through the 14 use of a grant is authorized to use a crossbow in any archery 15 season while hunting with the tag. 16 -2- LSB 2517HC (2) 90 js/rn 2/ 2