HF 924 (LSB 2917HV (1) 91)

HOUSE FILE 924

BY  COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

(SUCCESSOR TO HSB 262)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the minimum age for acquiring or carrying weapons.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 724.8, subsection 1, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  Is less than eighteen years of age for a professional permit or less than twenty-one years of age for a nonprofessional permit.
    Sec. 2.  Section 724.15, subsection 2, paragraph a, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   a.  Under twenty-one eighteen years of age except for those persons included in section 724.22, subsection 4, who acquire a pistol or revolver when the person’s duty so requires.
    Sec. 3.  Section 724.22, subsections 2, 5, and 8, Code 2025, are amended to read as follows:
   2.  Except as provided in subsections 4 and 5, a person who sells, loans, gives, or makes available a pistol or revolver or ammunition for a pistol or revolver to a person below the age of twenty-one eighteen commits a serious misdemeanor for a first offense and a class “D” felony for second and subsequent offenses.
   5.  a.  A parent, or guardian, or spouse who is twenty-one eighteen years of age or older, of a person under the age of twenty-one eighteen may allow the person, while under direct supervision, to possess a pistol or revolver or the ammunition therefor for any lawful purpose, or while the person receives instruction in the proper use thereof from an instructor twenty-one eighteen years of age or older, with the consent of such parent, guardian, or spouse.
   b.  As used in this section, “direct supervision” means supervision provided by the parent, guardian, spouse, or instructor who is twenty-one eighteen years of age or older, who maintains a physical presence near the supervised person conducive to hands-on instruction, who maintains visual and verbal contact at all times with the supervised person, and who is not intoxicated as provided under the conditions set out in section 321J.2, subsection 1, or under the influence of an illegal drug.
   8.  A parent, guardian, or spouse, who is twenty-one eighteen years of age or older, of a minor under the age of fourteen years and who allows that minor to possess a pistol or revolver or the ammunition pursuant hereto, shall be strictly liable to an injured party for all damages resulting from the possession of the pistol or revolver or ammunition therefor by that minor.
    Sec. 4.  Section 724.22, subsection 4, Code 2025, is amended by striking the subsection.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   Current law generally prohibits a person under the age of 21 from acquiring a permit to carry weapons, acquiring pistols and revolvers, and carrying dangerous weapons. This bill lowers the minimum age to 18 and makes conforming changes, including to scope of liability provisions.