HF 100 (LSB 1082YH (3) 91)

HOUSE FILE 100

BY  MEGGERS

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to U.S.S. Iowa (BB-61) special registration plates, providing fees, and making appropriations.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 321.34, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  11E.  U.S.S. Iowa (BB-61) plates.
   a.  Upon application and payment of the proper fees, the director may issue U.S.S. Iowa (BB-61) plates to the owner of a motor vehicle subject to registration under section 321.109, subsection 1, autocycle, motor truck, motor home, multipurpose vehicle, motorcycle, trailer, or travel trailer.
   b.  The department shall request and receive designs for the U.S.S. Iowa (BB-61) plates from members of the public. The department shall allow members of the public to choose the final design for the U.S.S. Iowa (BB-61) plates by holding a vote on the department’s internet site.
   c.  The special U.S.S. Iowa (BB-61) fee for letter-number designated U.S.S. Iowa (BB-61) plates is thirty-five dollars. An applicant may obtain personalized U.S.S. Iowa (BB-61) plates upon payment of the fee for personalized plates as provided in subsection 5, which is in addition to the special U.S.S. Iowa (BB-61) fee. Personalized plates authorized by this subsection may be limited to no more than five numerals, letters, or combinations of numerals and letters if the department determines limiting the number of numerals and letters is necessary due to the final design of the plates.
   d.  The fees collected by the director under this subsection shall be paid monthly to the treasurer of state and deposited in the road use tax fund. The treasurer of state shall transfer monthly from the statutory allocations fund created under section 321.145, subsection 2, to the general fund of the state the amount of the special fees collected in the previous month for U.S.S. Iowa (BB-61) plates. Such moneys are appropriated to the department of veterans affairs to distribute in the form of grants to organizations that maintain or fundraise for the maintenance of the U.S.S. Iowa (BB-61). Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys appropriated under this subsection shall not revert.
   e.  Upon receipt of the special registration plates, the applicant shall surrender the current registration plates to the county treasurer. The county treasurer shall validate the special registration plates in the same manner as regular registration plates are validated under this section. The annual special U.S.S. Iowa (BB-61) fee for letter-number designated plates is ten dollars which shall be paid in addition to the regular annual registration fee. The annual fee for personalized U.S.S. Iowa (BB-61) plates is five dollars which shall be paid in addition to the annual special U.S.S. Iowa (BB-61) fee and the regular annual registration fee. The annual special U.S.S. Iowa (BB-61) fee shall be credited as provided under paragraph “d”.
   f.  The department shall not condition the issuance of U.S.S. Iowa (BB-61) plates on the receipt of any number of orders for U.S.S. Iowa (BB-61) plates.
   g.  The department may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to administer this subsection.
    Sec. 2.  DEPARTMENT TO SUBMIT LEGISLATION.  If the final design for U.S.S. Iowa (BB-61) special registration plates, as provided in this Act, does not comply with section 321.166, subsection 2 or 9, or any other provision of law, the department of transportation shall submit legislation for consideration by the general assembly to make any necessary changes.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill requires the department of transportation (DOT) to create and issue U.S.S. Iowa (BB-61) special registration plates based on a design chosen by public vote. The U.S.S. Iowa (BB-61) is a retired battleship and the lead ship of her class, having earned nine battle stars for World War II service and two for Korean Conflict service. The ship was also awarded the navy meritorious unit commendation, the navy occupation service medal, and the armed forces expeditionary medal, and was four-time recipient of the coveted navy “E” ribbon.
   The DOT must request and receive designs for the U.S.S. Iowa (BB-61) plates from members of the public. The DOT is required to allow members of the public to choose the final design for the U.S.S. Iowa (BB-61) plates by holding a vote on the DOT’s internet site.
   The bill provides that the special U.S.S. Iowa (BB-61) fee for letter-number designated U.S.S. Iowa (BB-61) plates is $35. An applicant may obtain personalized U.S.S. Iowa (BB-61) plates upon payment of the $25 fee for personalized plates set forth under current law, which is in addition to the special U.S.S. Iowa (BB-61) fee. Personalized U.S.S. Iowa (BB-61) plates may be limited to five numerals and letters if the DOT determines such a limit is necessary due to the final design of the plates. The annual special U.S.S. Iowa (BB-61) fee for letter-number designated plates is $10, which is in addition to the regular annual registration fee. The annual fee for personalized U.S.S. Iowa (BB-61) plates is $5, which is in addition to the annual special U.S.S. Iowa (BB-61) fee and the regular annual registration fee.
   The fees collected by the DOT must be paid monthly to the treasurer of state and deposited in the road use tax fund. The treasurer of state must transfer monthly from the statutory allocations fund to the general fund of the state the amount of the special fees collected in the previous month for the U.S.S. Iowa (BB-61) plates. Such moneys are appropriated to the department of veterans affairs to distribute in the form of grants to organizations that maintain or fundraise for the maintenance of the U.S.S. Iowa (BB-61).
   The bill prohibits the DOT from conditioning the issuance of U.S.S. Iowa (BB-61) plates on the receipt of any number of orders for U.S.S. Iowa (BB-61) plates.
   Under current law, nonprofit organizations are authorized to apply to the DOT for approval to issue a decal of the organization’s own design to be displayed on special registration plates with space reserved for an organizational decal. The nonprofit organization may charge a fee and retain any payment received for the organizational decal. Code section 321.34(13) sets forth the application process and certain limitations for nonprofit organizations and decal designs.
   The DOT is authorized to adopt rules to administer the bill, and must submit legislation for consideration by the general assembly if the final design of the plates does not comply with current law.