Struck = removed from the bill ·
added = the amendment's new text.
House File 974 -H-1312 IntroducedAmend HOUSEHouse FILEFile 974 BYas COMMITTEEfollows: ON WAYS AND MEANS (SUCCESSOR TO HF 525) (SUCCESSOR TO HSB 144) (COMPANION TO SF 488 BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION) A BILL FOR An Act relating to vehicle registration plates, including registration plate frames and Gadsden flag special registration plates, providing fees, and making appropriations.
BE1. IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
TLSBPage 2559HZ1, (1)before 91line th/ns1 H.F.by inserting:
974<Section Section 1.
Section 321.34,321.18, subsection 7, Code 2025, is amended byto addingread theas followingfollows: new subsection:
NEW7. SUBSECTION .
11E.Any school bus in this state used exclusively for the transportation of pupils to and from school or a school function or for the purposes provided in section 285.1, subsection 1, and section 285.10, subsection 9, or used exclusively for the transportation of children enrolled in a federal head start program.
GadsdenUpon flagapplication plates.the department shall, without charge, issue a registration certificate and a registration plates plate.
The plates plate shall be attached to the front and rear of each bus exempt from registration under this subsection.
Sec.
___.
Section 321.22, subsection 1, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
1.
An urban transit company or system having a franchise to operate in any city and any regional transit system may make application to the department, upon forms furnished by the department, for a certificate containing a distinguishing number and for one or more pairs of registration plates to be attached to the front and rear of buses owned or operated by the transit company or system.
Sec.
___.
Section 321.26, subsection 2, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
2.
The county treasurer may adjust the registration renewal or expiration date of vehicles for which the county treasurer is responsible for renewal under section 321.40 when deemed necessary to equalize the number of vehicles registered in each twelve-month period or for the administrative efficiency of the county treasurer’s office.
The adjustment shall be accomplished by delivery of a written notice to the vehicle owner of the adjustment and allowance of a credit for the remaining months of the unused portion of the annual registration fee, rounded to the nearest whole dollar, HF 974.1622 (3) 91 -1- th/ns 1/7 which amount shall be deducted from the annual registration fee due at the time of registration.
Upon receipt of the notification the owner shall, within thirty days, surrender the registration card and registration plates plate to any county treasurer, except that the registration plates plate shall not be surrendered if a validation stickers sticker or other emblems are emblem is used to designate the month and year of expiration of registration.
Upon payment of the annual registration fee, less the credit allowed for the remaining months of the unused portion of the annual registration fee, the county treasurer that adjusted the registration renewal or expiration date of the vehicle shall issue a new registration card and registration plates plate, validation stickers sticker , or emblems emblem which indicate indicates the month and year of expiration of registration.
Sec.
___.
Section 321.34, subsections 1 and 2, Code 2025, are amended to read as follows:
1.
Plates Plate issued.
The county treasurer upon receiving application, accompanied by proper fee, for registration of a vehicle shall issue to the owner one registration plate for a motorcycle, motorized bicycle, autocycle, truck tractor, trailer, or semitrailer and two registration plates for every other motor vehicle .
The registration plates plate, including any special registration plates plate, shall be assigned to the owner of a vehicle.
When the owner of a registered vehicle transfers or assigns ownership of the vehicle to another person, the owner shall remove the registration plates plate from the vehicle.
The owner shall forward the plates plate to any county treasurer or the owner may have the plates plate assigned to another vehicle within thirty days after transfer, upon payment of the fees required by law.
The owner shall immediately affix the registration plates plate retained by the owner to another vehicle owned or acquired by the owner, providing the owner complies with section 321.46.
The department shall adopt rules providing for the assignment of a HF 974.1622 (3) 91 -2- th/ns 2/7 registration plates plate to the transferee of a vehicle for which a credit is allowed under section 321.46, subsection 6.
2.
Validation stickers.
UponIn applicationlieu andof paymentissuing ofa thenew properregistration fees,plates theplate directoreach mayregistration issueyear Gadsdenfor flaga platesvehicle torenewing registration, the ownerdepartment ofmay areassign motorthe vehicleregistration subjectplates toplate registrationpreviously underissued sectionto 321.109,the subsectionvehicle 1,and autocycle,may motoradopt truck,and motorprescribe home,an multipurposeannual vehicle,validation motorcycle,sticker trailer,indicating orpayment travelof trailer.annual registration fees.
The department shall issue one validation sticker for each set of registration plates plate.
The sticker shall specify the month and year of expiration of the registration plates plate.
The sticker shall be displayed only on the rear registration plate, except that the sticker shall be displayed on the front registration plate of a truck tractor .
GadsdenThe flagstate platesdepartment of transportation shall beadopt designedrules byto provide for the department.placement of the motor vehicle registration validation sticker.> 2.
ThePage background2, shallby bestriking yellowlines at23 thethrough top29 and bottom,inserting: with the color fading into white in the center.
The<Sec. plate’s numbers and letters shall be black.
The___. left side of the plate shall depict a black and white rattlesnake coiled on green grass.
TheSection image321.37, depictingCode the2025, coiledis rattlesnakeamended shallto beread atas leastfollows: three inches tall and two inches wide.
The321.37 phraseDisplay “Don’t Tread on Me” shall appear at the bottom of theplates plate.
c.1.
TheRegistration specialplates GadsdenThe flagregistration feeplate issued for letter-numbera designatedmotor Gadsdenvehicle flagother platesthan isan fiftyautocycle, dollars.motorcycle, motorized bicycle, or a truck tractor shall be attached to the rear of the motor vehicle, one in the front and the other in the rear.
AnThe applicantregistration mayplate obtainissued personalizedfor Gadsdenan flagautocycle, platesmotorcycle, uponor paymentother ofvehicle therequired feeto forbe personalizedregistered plateshereunder asshall providedbe inattached subsection 5, which is in addition to the specialrear Gadsdenof flagthe fee.vehicle.
PersonalizedThe platesregistration authorizedplate byissued thisfor subsectiona truck tractor shall be limitedattached to nothe morefront than five numerals, letters, or combinations of numeralsthe andtruck letters.tractor.
d.The special plate issued to a dealer shall be attached on the rear of the vehicle when operated on the highways of this state.
The fees collected by the director under this subsection shall be paid monthly to the treasurer of state and deposited in the road use tax fund.
The treasurer of state shall transfer monthly from the statutory allocations fund created under section 321.145, subsection 2, to the general fund of the state an amount equal to the special fees collected in the previous month for Gadsden flag plates, minus one dollar per issuance or renewal of the plates that month.
Such moneys are appropriated to the department of public safety to distribute in the form of grants to provide education and training on the right to keep and bear arms protected under LSB 2559HZ (1) 91 -1- th/ns 1/5 H.F.
974 the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Iowa, and training on firearm safety.
In the awarding of grants, the department of public safety shall give first consideration to any official state association of the national rifle association and similar nonprofit organizations.
Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys appropriated under this subsection shall not revert to the general fund of the state.
e.
Upon receipt of the special registration plates, the applicant shall surrender the current registration plates to the county treasurer.
The county treasurer shall validate the special registration plates in the same manner as regular registration plates are validated under this section.
The annual special Gadsden flag fee for letter-number designated plates is fifty dollars which shall be paid in addition to the regular annual registration fee.
The annual fee for personalized Gadsden flag plates is five dollars which shall be paid in addition to the annual special Gadsden flag fee and the regular annual registration fee.
The annual special Gadsden flag fee shall be credited as provided under paragraph “d”.
f.
The department shall not condition the issuance of Gadsden flag plates on the receipt of any number of orders for Gadsden flag plates.
Sec.
SectionRegistration 321.37,plates subsectionissued 3,for Codea 2025,motor vehicle which is amendedmodel year 1948 or older, and reconstructed or specially HF 974.1622 (3) 91 -3- th/ns 3/7 constructed vehicles built to readresemble asa follows:model year 1948 vehicle or older, other than a truck registered for more than five tons, autocycle, motorcycle, or truck tractor, may display one registration plate on the rear of the vehicle if the other registration plate issued to the vehicle is carried in the vehicle at all times when the vehicle is operated on a public highway.
It2. is unlawful for the The owner of a vehicle to shall not place any a frame around or over the a registration plate which does not permit full view of all numerals and letters printed on the registration plate, other than the name of the county .
It is unlawful for the The owner of a vehicle to shall not place any a frame around or over the registration plate which does not permit full view of all numerals and letters printed on the registration plate, other than the name of the county.
3.___.
Section 321.166,321.115, subsectionssubsection 21, andparagraph 9,c, Code 2025, areis amended to read as follows:
c.
The owner of a motor vehicle registered under this subsection may display an authentic Iowa registration plate or set of plates from the model year of the motor vehicle, furnished by the person and approved by the department, in lieu of the current and valid Iowa registration plates plate issued for the vehicle, provided that the current and valid Iowa registration plates plate and the registration card issued for the vehicle are simultaneously carried within the vehicle and are available for inspection to any peace officer upon the officer’s request.
Sec.
___.
Section 321.115A, subsection 1, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
1.
A motor vehicle may be registered as a replica vehicle or street rod.
The annual registration fee is the fee provided for in section 321.109, 321.113, 321.122, or 321.124.
The owner of a vehicle registered under this section may display a registration plate or set of plates from or representing the model year of the motor vehicle or the model year of the motor vehicle the registered vehicle is designed to resemble, furnished by the person and approved by the department, in lieu of the current and valid Iowa registration plates plate HF 974.1622 (3) 91 -4- th/ns 4/7 issued for the vehicle, provided that the current and valid Iowa registration plates plate and the registration card issued for the vehicle are simultaneously carried within the vehicle and are available for inspection to any peace officer upon the officer’s request.> 3.
Page 3, after line 20 by inserting:
<Sec.
___.
Section 321.385A, subsection 1, paragraph b, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
b.
A citation issued for failure to have rear lamps as required under section 321.387 or a rear registration plate light as required under section 321.388 shall first provide for a seventy-two hour period within which the person charged with the violation shall replace or repair the lamps or light.
Sec.
___.
Section 321.385A, subsection 2, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
EveryIf registrationthe plateperson orcomplies pairwith ofthe platesdirective shallto displayreplace aor registrationrepair platethe numberheadlamp, whichrear shalllamps, consist of alphabetical or numericalrear charactersregistration orplate alight combinationwithin thereof and the nameallotted oftime thisperiod, state,the whichcitation mayshall be abbreviated.expunged.
EveryIf registrationthe LSBperson 2559HZfails (1)to 91comply -2-within th/nsthe 2/5allotted H.F.time period, the citation shall be processed in the same manner as other citations.
974Sec. plate issued by the county treasurer shall display the name of the county, including any plate issued pursuant to section 321.34, except Pearl Harbor and purple heart registration plates issued prior to January 1, 1997;
and___. collegiate, fire fighter, and medal of honor, and Gadsden flag registration plates.
SpecialSection truck321.388, registrationCode plates2025, shallis displayamended theto wordread “special”.as follows:
The321.388 departmentIlluminating mayplates adoptRegistration rulesplate toilluminated. implement this subsection.
9.Either the rear lamp or a separate lamp shall be so constructed and placed as to illuminate with a white light the rear registration plate attached to the rear of the vehicle and render it clearly legible from a distance of fifty feet to the rear.
SpecialWhen the rear registration platesplate issuedis pursuantilluminated toby sectionan 321.34,electric lamp other than goldthe star,required medalrear oflamp, honor,the collegiate,two firelamps fighter, natural resources, blackout, and flying our colors, and Gadsden flag registration plates, shall be consistentturned with the design and color of regular registration plates but shall provide a space on aor portionoff ofonly theby plate for the purposesame ofcontrol allowingswitch theat placementall oftimes awhen distinguishingheadlamps processedare emblemlighted. or an organization decal.
SpecialThis registrationsection platesdoes shallnot alsoapply complyto withcommercial thevehicles requirementsengaged forexclusively regularin registrationintrastate platescommerce asthat providedare indump thistrucks sectionor tothat theare extentused exclusively for the requirementsmovement areof consistentconstruction withmaterials theand sectionequipment authorizingto aand particularHF special974.1622 vehicle(3) registration91 plate.-5- th/ns 5/7 from construction projects.
EXPLANATIONSec. The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
This___. bill relates to vehicle registration plates.
TheSection bill321J.4B, authorizessubsection the5, departmentparagraph off, transportationsubparagraph (DOT)(1), toCode design2025, andis issueamended Gadsdento flagread specialas registrationfollows: plates.
The(1) billIf requires the plate’svehicle backgroundsubject to bethe yellowcourt atorder is not in the topcustody andof bottom,a withlaw enforcement agency, the colorperson fadingor intoagency whitedesignated in the center.order as the person or agency responsible for executing the order shall, upon receipt of the order, promptly locate the vehicle specified in the order, seize the motor vehicle and the license plates registration plate, and send or deliver the vehicle’s license plates registration plate to the department.
TheSec. plate’s numbers and letters must be black.
The___. left side of the plate must contain the image of a rattlesnake in black and white coiled on green grass.
TheSection phrase321J.4B, “Don’tsubsection Tread7, onCode Me”2025, mustis appearamended atto theread bottomas offollows: the plate.
The7. bill provides that the special Gadsden flag fee for letter-number designated Gadsden flag plates is $50.
Ana. applicant may obtain personalized Gadsden flag plates upon LSB 2559HZ (1) 91 -3- th/ns 3/5 H.F.
974Upon paymentreceipt of thea $25notice feeof forconviction personalizedof platesthe setdefendant forthfor undera currentviolation law,of whichsubsection is2, inthe additionimpounding toauthority shall seize the specialmotor Gadsdenvehicle’s flaglicense fee.plates registration plate and registration, and shall send or deliver them to the department.
Personalizedb. Gadsden flag plates are limited to five numerals and letters.
The annualdepartment specialshall Gadsdendestroy flaglicense feeplates fora letter-numberregistration designatedplate platesreceived isunder $50,this whichsection isand inshall additionnot toauthorize the regularrelease annualof the vehicle or the issuance of a new license plates registration fee.plate for the vehicle until the period of impoundment or immobilization has expired, and the fee and costs assessed under subsection 10 have been paid.
The annual fee for personalizedissuance Gadsdenof flaga new license plates isregistration $5,plate whichand iscertificates incertificate additionof toregistration shall be the annualsame specialas Gadsdenfor flagthe feereplacement andof thea regularlost, annualmutilated, or destroyed license plates registration fee.plate and certificates certificate of registration.
TheSec. fees collected by the DOT must be paid monthly to the treasurer of state and deposited in the road use tax fund (RUTF).
The___. treasurer of state must transfer monthly from the statutory allocations fund to the general fund of the state an amount equal to the special fees collected in the previous month for the Gadsden flag plates, minus $1 per issuance or renewal of the plates that month.
SuchCODE moneysEDITOR areDIRECTIVE. appropriated to department of public safety (DPS) to distribute in the form of grants to provide education and training on the right to keep and bear arms, and training on firearm safety.
InThe theCode awardingeditor ofmay grants,make DPSany mustchange givethe firstCode considerationeditor deems necessary to correct any officialCode statesection associationor ofany enacted legislation that refers, in any context, to a set of, a pair of, or two motor vehicle registration plates for one vehicle, rather than one registration plate, when there appears to be no doubt as to the nationalproper riflemethod associationof andHF similar974.1622 nonprofit(3) organizations.91 -6- th/ns 6/7 making the correction.
TheSec. bill prohibits the DOT from conditioning the issuance of Gadsden flag plates on the receipt of any number of orders for Gadsden flag plates.
Gadsden___. flag plates are exempt from the general requirements to display the name of the county that issues the plates and to be consistent with the design and color of regular registration plates.
UnderTRANSITION currentPROVISIONS. law, nonprofit organizations are authorized to apply to the DOT for approval to issue a decal of the organization’s own design to be displayed on special registration plates with space reserved for an organizational decal.
The nonprofittransition organizationfrom maythe chargeuse aof feemotor vehicle registration plates on both the front and retainrear anyof paymentcertain receivedvehicles forto the organizationaluse decal.of such plates on only the rear of certain vehicles, as directed by this Act, shall be accomplished in stages.
CodeA LSBperson 2559HZapplying (1)for 91a -4-new th/nsor 4/5replacement H.F.registration plate on or after the effective date of this Act shall receive only one registration plate.
974Otherwise, sectionthe 321.34(13)transition setsshall forthnot thebe applicationaccomplished processuntil anda certainnew limitationsseries forof nonprofitregistration organizationsplates andis decalissued designs.to replace a current series.
UnderA currentperson law, an owner of a vehicle who placeswas anyissued frame around or over a registrationpair plate which does not permit full view of allregistration numeralsplates, andincluding lettersspecial printedregistration onplates, themay registrationattach plate,only includingone theplate namein ofaccordance thewith countythis printedAct on theand bottomafter of the plate,effective commitsdate a simple misdemeanor punishable by a scheduled fine of $30.this Act.
UnderA theperson bill,who is required to transfer a registration plate, or to return a registration plate frameto isthe nodepartment longerof requiredtransportation or to permita fullcounty viewtreasurer, ofshall thetransfer nameor ofreturn both plates, as applicable, if the county.person was issued a pair of plates.
LSBThe 2559HZdepartment (1)of 91transportation -5-may th/nsadopt 5/5rules pursuant to chapter 17A to implement the transition.> 4.
Title page, line 1, after <including> by inserting <the issuance and display of one registration plate,> 5.
Title page, line 2, by striking <frames> and inserting <frames,> 6.
By renumbering as necessary.
______________________________ COOLING of Linn HF 974.1622 (3) 91 -7- th/ns 7/7