House File 738 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE 738
BY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL
RESOURCES
(SUCCESSOR TO HSB 196)
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to the possession and use of a firearm while on
2 an electric scooter, and providing penalties.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
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1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 724.33 Possession and use of a
2 firearm while on an electric scooter.
3 1. For purposes of this section, “electric scooter” means a
4 device that is equipped with handlebars and an electric motor,
5 is designed for the rider to stand on a narrow platform that
6 is slightly above the ground but may contain a seat, and is
7 solely powered by a rider or by an electric motor capable of
8 propelling the device without additional propulsion supplied by
9 the rider at a maximum speed on a paved level surface of no more
10 than twenty-four miles per hour, or both. “Electric scooter”
11 does not include an electric personal assistive mobility
12 device, a bicycle, or any vehicle including any motor vehicle
13 as those terms are defined in section 321.1.
14 2. a. A person shall not operate or ride an electric
15 scooter with a firearm in the person’s possession unless the
16 firearm is unloaded and enclosed in a carrying case, except as
17 otherwise provided. However, a nonambulatory person may carry
18 an unloaded and uncased firearm while operating or riding an
19 electric scooter.
20 b. (1) A person may operate or ride an electric scooter
21 with a loaded firearm, whether concealed or not, without a
22 permit to carry weapons, if the person operates or rides on
23 land owned, possessed, or rented by the person and the person’s
24 conduct is otherwise lawful.
25 (2) A person may operate or ride an electric scooter with
26 a loaded pistol or revolver, whether concealed or not, if the
27 person is operating or riding the electric scooter on land
28 that is not owned, possessed, or rented by the person, and the
29 person’s conduct is otherwise lawful.
30 c. A person shall not discharge a firearm while on an
31 electric scooter, except that a nonambulatory person may
32 discharge a firearm from an electric scooter while lawfully
33 hunting if the person is not operating or riding a moving
34 electric scooter.
35 3. A person who violates this section is guilty of a simple
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1 misdemeanor punishable by a scheduled fine of one hundred
2 thirty-five dollars.
3 EXPLANATION
4 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
5 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
6 This bill relates to the possession and use of a firearm
7 while on an electric scooter.
8 The bill defines “electric scooter” as a device that is
9 equipped with handlebars and an electric motor, is designed
10 for the rider to stand on a narrow platform that is slightly
11 above the ground but may contain a seat, and is solely powered
12 by a rider or by an electric motor capable of propelling the
13 device without additional propulsion supplied by the rider at a
14 maximum speed on a paved level surface of no more than 24 miles
15 per hour, or both. “Electric scooter” does not include an
16 electric personal assistive mobility device, a bicycle, or any
17 vehicle including any motor vehicle as those terms are defined
18 in Code section 321.1.
19 The bill prohibits a person from operating or riding an
20 electric scooter with a firearm in the person’s possession
21 unless the firearm is unloaded and enclosed in a carrying case,
22 except as provided by the bill when the person’s conduct is
23 otherwise lawful. The bill prohibits a person from discharging
24 a firearm while on an electric scooter. The bill provides
25 that a nonambulatory person may carry an uncased and unloaded
26 firearm while operating or riding an electric scooter. The
27 bill further allows a nonambulatory hunter to discharge a
28 firearm from an electric scooter while lawfully hunting if the
29 person is not operating or riding a moving electric scooter.
30 A person who violates the bill is guilty of a simple
31 misdemeanor punishable by a scheduled fine of $135.
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