House Study Bill 624 - Introduced HOUSE FILE _____ BY (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION BILL BY CHAIRPERSON JONES) A BILL FOR An Act relating to the design of special registration plates 1 with a distinguishing processed emblem associated with 2 military service. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 5892YC (6) 91 th/ns

H.F. _____ 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 5892YC (6) 91 th/ns 1/ 3

H.F. _____ 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 EXPLANATION 6 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 7 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 8 Under current law, a person registering a motor vehicle 9 may order special registration plates, including a variety of 10 special registration plates with a distinguishing processed 11 emblem. The special registration plates must be consistent 12 with the design and color of regular registration plates but 13 with a space reserved for a processed emblem on the left side 14 of the plates. Certain special registration plates, including 15 gold star, medal of honor, collegiate, fire fighter, natural 16 resources, blackout, and flying our colors plates are not 17 required to match the design of regular plates. 18 This bill authorizes a person applying for certain processed 19 emblem special registration plates, including ex-prisoner of 20 war plates; legion of merit plates; national guard plates; 21 Pearl Harbor plates; purple heart plates; United States 22 armed forces retired plates; silver or bronze star plates; 23 distinguished service, navy, or air force cross plates; 24 soldier’s, navy and marine corps, or airman’s medal plates; 25 combat infantryman badge, combat action badge, combat action 26 ribbon, air force combat action medal, and combat medical badge 27 plates; gold star plates; or United States veteran plates to 28 request, at no additional cost, that the issued plates be navy 29 along the top and red along the bottom, containing a white 30 space in the middle of the plate displaying the plate’s letters 31 and numbers in black, with a gray image of a bald eagle behind 32 the plate’s letters and numbers. This plate design matches the 33 current design for special flying our colors plates. A person 34 may exchange previously issued special registration plates for 35 -2- LSB 5892YC (6) 91 th/ns 2/ 3

H.F. _____ the applicable special registration plates for which the person 1 is eligible with a plate design described in the bill at no 2 additional cost. 3 The bill also makes conforming changes. 4 -3- LSB 5892YC (6) 91 th/ns 3/ 3