HSB 769 (LSB 6954YC (3) 91)

HOUSE FILE _____ 

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS BILL BY CHAIRPERSON NORDMAN)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to driver’s licenses and nonoperator’s identification cards marked to reflect gold star status.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 321.189, Code 2026, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  8A.  Gold star status.  A licensee who is the surviving spouse, parent, child, or sibling of a deceased member of the United States armed forces who died while serving on active duty during a time of military conflict or who died as a result of such service may request that the license be marked to reflect the licensee’s gold star status. Upon receipt of such a request and satisfactory proof of eligibility, the department shall issue a license with the phrase “GOLD STAR FAMILY” marked prominently on the face of the license.
    Sec. 2.  Section 321.190, subsection 1, paragraph b, Code 2026, is amended by adding the following new subparagraph:
   NEW SUBPARAGRAPH.  (05)  Upon receipt of a request and satisfactory proof of eligibility, a nonoperator’s identification card issued to a person who is the surviving spouse, parent, child, or sibling of a deceased member of the United States armed forces who died while serving on active duty during a time of military conflict or who died as a result of such service, must contain the same information as any other nonoperator’s identification card except the phrase “GOLD STAR FAMILY” must appear prominently on the face of the card.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill authorizes a person who is the surviving spouse, parent, child, or sibling of a deceased member of the United States armed forces who died while serving on active duty during a time of military conflict or who died as a result of such service to request that the person’s driver’s license or nonoperator’s identification card, as applicable, be prominently marked with the phrase “GOLD STAR FAMILY”. Such a person is eligible to apply for gold star special registration plates under current law.
   Under current law, a veteran who was honorably discharged from the armed forces of the United States may similarly request that the veteran’s driver’s license or nonoperator’s identification card be marked to reflect the veteran’s status as a veteran.
   A gold star symbol is used on state driver’s licenses and other identification cards to indicate compliance with federal REAL ID requirements.