Iowa House approves bill on weapons in vehicles and renames 'gun‑free' signs as 'enhanced penalty zones'

The Iowa House passed Senate File 2263, a bill revising rules on carrying, transporting and possession of weapons and clarifying when enhanced penalties apply near certain locations.

Representative Crawford, the bill’s floor sponsor, said the measure clarifies that a lawfully carried firearm in a locked personal vehicle in a state, county or city parking lot is permitted, and that foster parents should not lose the right to carry lawfully in vehicles. The sponsor also offered language replacing the term "gun‑free zone" with "enhanced penalty zone" to reduce public confusion about the effect of signage.

Multiple amendments were offered and adopted to refine the bill. Amendment H8366 excluded Department of Corrections parking lots. Amendment H8321 added aggravated misdemeanors to the list of convictions that would prevent coverage under certain provisions of the bill; sponsors said the change fixed an oversight so violent aggravated misdemeanors would not be covered. Representative Wilburn and others urged careful review of the domestic‑abuse definitions that intersect with the bill’s exceptions.

Floor debate included discussion of extreme risk protection orders (so‑called red‑flag laws). Representative Wilburn noted that 21 states and D.C. have such laws and cited research on reductions in firearm suicides in certain states; sponsors argued due process safeguards were essential and expressed concern about ex parte proceedings curtailing constitutional rights. Representative Crawford said the bill was aligned with the constitutional language Iowans adopted in 2022 and framed the changes as protecting due process.

The House recorded the final vote on Senate File 2263 as Those voting I 60, No 26, Absent/Not voting 14; the bill was declared to have passed the House and will be messaged to the Senate.