Struck = removed from the bill ·
added = the amendment's new text.
House File 974 -H-1306 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)line 913, th/nsby H.F.striking <Gadsden flag> and inserting <Rescue dogs> 2.
974Page Section1, 1.line 5, by striking <Gadsden flag> and inserting <rescue dogs> 3.
SectionPage 321.34,1, Codeline 2025,9, isby amendedstriking by<Gadsden addingflag> theand followinginserting new<rescue subsection:dogs> 4.
NEWPage SUBSECTION1, .by striking lines 10 through 16.
11E.5.
GadsdenPage flag1, plates.line 17, by striking <Gadsden flag> and inserting <rescue dogs> 6.
a.Page 1, line 18, by striking <Gadsden flag> and inserting <rescue dogs> 7.
UponPage application and payment of the proper fees, the director may issue Gadsden flag plates to the owner of a motor vehicle subject to registration under section 321.109, subsection 1, autocycle,line motor19, truck,by motorstriking home,<Gadsden multipurposeflag> vehicle,and motorcycle,inserting trailer,<rescue ordogs> travel8. trailer.
b.Page 1, line 21, by striking <Gadsden flag> and inserting <rescue dogs> 9.
GadsdenPage flag1, platesline shall31, beby designedstriking by<Gadsden theflag> department.and inserting <rescue dogs> 10.
TheBy backgroundstriking shallpage be1, yellowline at33, thethrough toppage 2, line 5, and bottom,inserting with<moneys are appropriated to the colordepartment fadingof intoagriculture whiteand land stewardship to distribute in the center.form of grants to assist organizations that rescue dogs from inhumane conditions.
TheIn plate’sthe numbersawarding of grants, the department of agriculture and lettersland stewardship shall begive black.first consideration to any official state association of the animal rescue league and similar nonprofit organizations.> 11.
ThePage left2, sideline of13, theby platestriking shall<Gadsden depictflag> a black and whiteinserting rattlesnake<rescue coileddogs> on12. green grass.
ThePage image2, depictingline the16, coiledby rattlesnakestriking shall<Gadsden beflag> at least three inches tall and twoinserting inches<rescue wide.dogs> 13.
ThePage phrase2, “Don’tline Tread17, onby Me”striking shall<Gadsden appearflag> atand theinserting bottom<rescue ofdogs> the14. plate.
c.Page 2, lines 18 and 19, by striking <Gadsden flag> and inserting <rescue dogs> 15.
ThePage special2, Gadsdenline flag21, feeby forstriking letter-number<Gadsden designatedflag> Gadsdenand flagHF plates974.1643 is(1) fifty91 dollars.-1- th/ns 1/2 inserting <rescue dogs> 16.
AnPage applicant2, mayline obtain22, personalizedby Gadsdenstriking flag<Gadsden platesflag> uponand paymentinserting of<rescue thedogs> fee17. for personalized plates as provided in subsection 5, which is in addition to the special Gadsden flag fee.
PersonalizedPage plates2, authorizedline 30, by thisstriking subsection<subsections shall2 beand limited9, toCode no2025, moreare> thanand fiveinserting numerals,<subsection letters,9, orCode combinations2025, ofis> numerals18. and letters.
d.By striking page 2, line 32, through page 3, line 8.
The19. 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.
ThePage treasurer3, ofline state12, shallby transferstriking monthly<Gadsden 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,> minusand oneinserting dollar<rescue perdogs> issuance20. or renewal of the plates that month.
SuchTitle moneyspage, areline appropriated2, toby thestriking department<Gadsden offlag> publicand safetyinserting to<rescue distributedogs> in______________________________ theJACOBY form of grantsJohnson toHF provide974.1643 education and training on the right to keep and bear arms protected under LSB 2559HZ (1) 91 -1--2- th/ns 1/52/2 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.
2.
Section 321.37, subsection 3, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
3.
It 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 .
Sec.
3.
Section 321.166, subsections 2 and 9, Code 2025, are amended to read as follows:
2.
Every registration plate or pair of plates shall display a registration plate number which shall consist of alphabetical or numerical characters or a combination thereof and the name of this state, which may be abbreviated.
Every registration LSB 2559HZ (1) 91 -2- th/ns 2/5 H.F.
974 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.
Special truck registration plates shall display the word “special”.
The department may adopt rules to implement this subsection.
9.
Special registration plates issued pursuant to section 321.34, other than gold star, medal of honor, collegiate, fire fighter, natural resources, blackout, and flying our colors, and Gadsden flag registration plates, shall be consistent with the design and color of regular registration plates but shall provide a space on a portion of the plate for the purpose of allowing the placement of a distinguishing processed emblem or an organization decal.
Special registration plates shall also comply with the requirements for regular registration plates as provided in this section to the extent the requirements are consistent with the section authorizing a particular special vehicle registration plate.
EXPLANATION 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.
The bill authorizes the department of transportation (DOT) to design and issue Gadsden flag special registration plates.
The bill requires the plate’s background to be yellow at the top and bottom, with the color fading into white in the center.
The 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.
The phrase “Don’t Tread on Me” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
The bill provides that the special Gadsden flag fee for letter-number designated Gadsden flag plates is $50.
An applicant may obtain personalized Gadsden flag plates upon LSB 2559HZ (1) 91 -3- th/ns 3/5 H.F.
974 payment of the $25 fee for personalized plates set forth under current law, which is in addition to the special Gadsden flag fee.
Personalized Gadsden flag plates are limited to five numerals and letters.
The annual special Gadsden flag fee for letter-number designated plates is $50, which is in addition to the regular annual registration fee.
The annual fee for personalized Gadsden flag plates is $5, which is in addition to the annual special Gadsden flag fee and the regular annual registration fee.
The 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.
Such moneys are 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.
In the awarding of grants, DPS must give first consideration to any official state association of the national rifle association and similar nonprofit organizations.
The 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.
Under current 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 nonprofit organization may charge a fee and retain any payment received for the organizational decal.
Code LSB 2559HZ (1) 91 -4- th/ns 4/5 H.F.
974 section 321.34(13) sets forth the application process and certain limitations for nonprofit organizations and decal designs.
Under current law, an owner of a vehicle who places any frame around or over a registration plate which does not permit full view of all numerals and letters printed on the registration plate, including the name of the county printed on the bottom of the plate, commits a simple misdemeanor punishable by a scheduled fine of $30.
Under the bill, a registration plate frame is no longer required to permit full view of the name of the county.
LSB 2559HZ (1) 91 -5- th/ns 5/5