Senate passes bill allowing firearms in government parking lots after removing campus and K‑12 parking provisions
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Summary
The Senate passed SF 22‑63 as amended to allow lawful carriers to keep firearms in locked vehicles in public government parking lots while removing provisions that would have allowed carry in college and K‑12 parking areas; opponents warned about risks for foster children and theft from parked cars.
Senate File 22‑63 — a five‑division bill that would have expanded where lawfully carried firearms may be kept on publicly funded property — passed the Iowa Senate on a roll‑call vote after an amendment stripping campus and K‑12 parking provisions was adopted.
Senator Schulz introduced the bill and said its purpose was to allow law‑abiding Iowans to exercise their constitutional right to carry without having to stow weapons off property they pay for. He moved Senate Amendment 50‑21, which removes Division 3 (Regents and community‑college parking lots) and Division 5 (K‑12 driveways and parking lots), and the amendment was adopted by voice vote.
Opponents voiced safety concerns in floor debate. Senator Zimmer told colleagues she welcomed the amendment removing K‑12 pickup and drop‑off areas, saying "that's the last place, quite honestly, I would prefer not to have people armed at that pickup or drop off time" because such settings can be emotionally charged.
Senator Kornbach warned that Division 1 — permitting firearms in unlocked or nonsecure government parking lots when the weapon is otherwise lawful and kept out of sight in a locked vehicle — could enable organized intimidation, using an example of people driving to a county jail with rifles and a grievance against law enforcement. He also said Division 2, which bars the Department of Human Services from restricting firearms in vehicles transporting foster children, removes safeguards for children whose custody the state oversees.
Senator Schulz rebutted those concerns and urged passage, saying foster children deserve protection but that law‑abiding citizens should not be forced to remove or unload weapons to use government‑funded parking. The Senate recorded individual votes (for example, Senator Donahue: nay; Senator Whitver: aye; Senator Taylor: aye; Senator Dray: nay; Senator Kelker: aye) and the presiding officer announced the bill received the constitutional majority and passed (Aye 35, Nay 12).
The bill was ordered immediately messaged to the House by unanimous consent.
What's next: SF 22‑63, as amended, moves to the lower chamber for further consideration.