SF 2263 (LSB 6688XS (3) 91)

SENATE FILE 2263

BY  SCHULTZ

(As Amended and Passed by the Senate 2026-02-24)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the carrying, transportation, and possession of weapons, and including effective date provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

DIVISION I
FIREARMS, AMMUNITION, OR DANGEROUS WEAPONS —— PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE PARKING LOTS

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  724.4F  Dangerous weapons in publicly accessible parking lots.
   1.  A person may carry, transport, or possess a dangerous weapon in a privately owned motor vehicle on the real property comprising a publicly accessible, nonsecure parking lot that is operated by the state or a county, city, or township in the state if the carrying, transportation, or possession of the dangerous weapon is otherwise lawful under the laws of this state and if the dangerous weapon remains out of sight and inside a locked vehicle on the real property when the vehicle is unoccupied.
   2.  This section does not apply to a parking lot at a facility, including an armory, owned or operated by the national guard.
   3.  For purposes of this section, “facility” and “national guard” mean the same as defined in section 29A.1.
    Sec. 2.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This division of this Act, being deemed of immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment.
DIVISION II
FIREARMS IN VEHICLES TRANSPORTING FOSTER CHILDREN

    Sec. 3.  Section 237.3, Code 2026, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  14.  Rules of the department shall not prohibit the otherwise lawful carrying, transportation, or possession of a firearm, regardless of whether the firearm is loaded, in motor vehicles used to transport a child in foster care.
DIVISION III
FIREARMS OR OFFENSIVE WEAPONS IN OR NEAR SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC PARKS

    Sec. 4.  Section 724.4A, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   724.4A  Weapons free zones Schools and public parks —— enhanced penalties.
   1.  As used in this section, “weapons free zone” means the area in or on, or within one thousand feet of, the real property comprising a public or private elementary or secondary school, or in or on the real property comprising a public park. A weapons free zone shall not include that portion of a public park designated as a hunting area under section 461A.42.
   2.  Notwithstanding sections 902.9 and 903.1, a person who commits a public offense involving a firearm or offensive weapon, within a weapons free zone the area in or on, or within one thousand feet of, the real property comprising a public or private elementary or secondary school, or in or on the real property comprising a public park, in violation of this or any other chapter shall be subject to a fine of twice the maximum amount which that may otherwise be imposed for the public offense.  This section shall not apply to any portion of a public park designated as a hunting area under section 461A.42.