HF 530 (LSB 2612HV (5) 91)

HOUSE FILE 530

BY  COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY

(SUCCESSOR TO HSB 166)

(As Amended and Passed by the House 2025-03-12)

A BILL FOR

An Act authorizing a member of the general assembly, judicial officer, attorney general, deputy attorney general, or an assistant attorney general to be issued a professional permit to carry weapons.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 724.6, subsection 1, paragraph a, subparagraph (1), Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   (1)  A person may be issued a permit to carry weapons when the person’s employment in a private investigation business or private security business licensed under chapter 80A, or a person’s employment as a member of the general assembly, peace officer, correctional officer, judicial officer, county attorney, assistant county attorney, attorney general, deputy attorney general, assistant attorney general, security guard, bank messenger or other person transporting property of a value requiring security, or in police work, reasonably justifies that person going armed.
    Sec. 2.  Section 724.6, subsection 1, paragraph a, subparagraph (4), Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   (4)  A person may be issued a permit to carry weapons if the person is a member of the general assembly, judicial officer, county attorney, or an assistant county attorney, attorney general, deputy attorney general, or an assistant attorney general. An application for a permit by an assistant county attorney must be approved by the county attorney of each county in which the applicant serves prior to a permit to carry weapons being issued. An application for a permit by a member of the general assembly, attorney general, deputy attorney general, or an assistant attorney general shall be delivered to the sheriff for the county in which the applicant resides. The sheriff of the issuing county may require the applicant to complete a proficiency examination prior to issuing the permit to carry weapons. The standards for a proficiency examination for a member of the general assembly, judicial officer, county attorney, or assistant county attorney, attorney general, deputy attorney general, or an assistant attorney general shall not exceed the standards required of a peace officer. The applicant shall pay the reasonable costs associated with completing a proficiency examination.
    Sec. 3.  Section 724.6, subsection 1, paragraphs b, c, and d, Code 2025, are amended to read as follows:
   b.  The permit shall be on a form prescribed and published by the commissioner of public safety, shall identify the holder, and shall state the nature of the employment requiring the holder to go armed. A permit so issued, other than to a member of the general assembly, peace officer, judicial officer, county attorney, or assistant county attorney, attorney general, deputy attorney general, or assistant attorney general, shall authorize the person to whom it is issued to go armed anywhere in the state, only while engaged in the employment, and while going to and from the place of the employment.
   c.  A permit issued to a member of the general assembly, certified peace officer, judicial officer, county attorney, or assistant county attorney, attorney general, deputy attorney general, or assistant attorney general shall authorize that member of the general assembly, peace officer, judicial officer, county attorney, or assistant county attorney, attorney general, deputy attorney general, or assistant attorney general to go armed anywhere in the state at all times, including on the grounds of a school. 
   d.  Permits shall expire twelve months after the date when issued except that permits issued to members of the general assembly, peace officers, judicial officers, county attorneys, assistant county attorneys, the attorney general, deputy attorneys general, assistant attorneys general, and correctional officers are valid through the holder of the permit’s period of employment unless otherwise canceled. When the employment is terminated, the holder of the permit shall surrender it the permit to the issuing officer for cancellation.
    Sec. 4.  Section 724.6, subsection 1, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  e.  Notwithstanding any other provision in this section, a person issued a permit to carry weapons under this section may carry weapons only in a concealed manner when inside a courtroom. This paragraph does not apply to peace officers or correctional officers when fulfilling their duties of employment.
    Sec. 5.  Section 724.6, subsection 3, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   3.  For purposes of this section, “emergency medical care provider”: 
   a.  “Emergency medical care provider” means the same as defined in section 147A.1.
   b.  “Judicial officer” means the same as defined in section 602.1101.
    Sec. 6.  Section 724.6, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  4.  The supreme court may by rule impose additional training or other requirements on judicial officers who hold a permit issued under this section.