House File 2351 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 2351 BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION (SUCCESSOR TO HSB 624) A BILL FOR An Act relating to the design of special registration plates 1 with a distinguishing processed emblem associated with 2 military service, and including applicability provisions. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 5892HV (2) 91 th/ns

H.F. 2351 Section 1. Section 321.34, subsection 12, Code 2026, is 1 amended by adding the following new paragraph: 2 NEW PARAGRAPH . 0b. An applicant for special registration 3 plates with a distinguishing processed emblem issued pursuant 4 to subsection 8A, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 20A, 20B, 20C, 24, 5 or 27 may request the plates be navy along the top and red 6 along the bottom, containing a white space in the middle of 7 the plate displaying the plate’s letters and numbers in black, 8 with a gray image of a bald eagle behind the plate’s letters 9 and numbers, at no additional cost. A person may exchange 10 previously issued special registration plates consistent 11 with the design and color of regular registration plates and 12 containing such a distinguishing processed emblem for the 13 applicable special registration plates for which the person is 14 eligible with a plate design described in this paragraph at no 15 additional cost. 16 Sec. 2. Section 321.166, subsection 9, Code 2026, is amended 17 to read as follows: 18 9. Special registration plates issued pursuant to section 19 321.34 , other than gold star must be consistent with the 20 design and color of regular registration plates and comply 21 with the requirements for regular registration plates to the 22 extent the requirements are consistent with the subsection 23 authorizing a particular special vehicle registration plate, 24 and may provide a space on a portion of the plate for the 25 purpose of allowing a distinguishing processed emblem or the 26 placement of an organization decal. However , medal of honor, 27 collegiate, fire fighter, natural resources, blackout, and 28 flying our colors registration plates, shall be consistent with 29 the design and color of regular registration plates but shall 30 provide a space on a portion of the plate for the purpose of 31 allowing the placement of a distinguishing processed emblem or 32 an organization decal and special registration plates issued 33 in accordance with section 321.34, subsection 12, paragraph 34 “0b” , must be consistent with the design described for the 35 -1- LSB 5892HV (2) 91 th/ns 1/ 3

H.F. 2351 plates, as applicable . Special registration plates shall also 1 comply with the requirements for regular registration plates 2 as provided in this section to the extent the requirements are 3 consistent with the section authorizing a particular special 4 vehicle registration plate. 5 Sec. 3. APPLICABILITY. This Act applies on and after 6 December 1, 2028, or the date the department of transportation 7 submits to the Iowa administrative code editor for publication 8 in the Iowa administrative bulletin a statement by the director 9 of transportation that the applicable phase of the department 10 of transportation’s new records system is implemented, 11 whichever is earlier. The department shall also forward a copy 12 of the statement to the Iowa Code editor. 13 EXPLANATION 14 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 15 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 16 Under current law, a person registering a motor vehicle 17 may order special registration plates, including a variety of 18 special registration plates with a distinguishing processed 19 emblem. The special registration plates must be consistent 20 with the design and color of regular registration plates but 21 with a space reserved for a processed emblem on the left side 22 of the plates. Certain special registration plates, including 23 gold star, medal of honor, collegiate, fire fighter, natural 24 resources, blackout, and flying our colors plates are not 25 required to match the design of regular plates. 26 This bill authorizes a person applying for certain processed 27 emblem special registration plates, including ex-prisoner of 28 war plates; legion of merit plates; national guard plates; 29 Pearl Harbor plates; purple heart plates; United States 30 armed forces retired plates; silver or bronze star plates; 31 distinguished service, navy, or air force cross plates; 32 soldier’s, navy and marine corps, or airman’s medal plates; 33 combat infantryman badge, combat action badge, combat action 34 ribbon, air force combat action medal, and combat medical badge 35 -2- LSB 5892HV (2) 91 th/ns 2/ 3

H.F. 2351 plates; gold star plates; or United States veteran plates to 1 request, at no additional cost, that the issued plates be navy 2 along the top and red along the bottom, containing a white 3 space in the middle of the plate displaying the plate’s letters 4 and numbers in black, with a gray image of a bald eagle behind 5 the plate’s letters and numbers. This plate design matches the 6 current design for special flying our colors plates. A person 7 may exchange previously issued special registration plates for 8 the applicable special registration plates for which the person 9 is eligible with a plate design described in the bill at no 10 additional cost. 11 The bill also makes conforming changes. 12 The bill applies on and after December 1, 2028, or the 13 date the department of transportation (DOT) submits to 14 the Iowa administrative code editor for publication in the 15 Iowa administrative bulletin a statement by the director of 16 transportation that the applicable phase of the DOT’s new 17 records system is implemented, whichever is earlier. The DOT 18 is also required to forward a copy of the statement to the Iowa 19 Code editor. 20 -3- LSB 5892HV (2) 91 th/ns 3/ 3