House File 73 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 73 BY MEGGERS A BILL FOR An Act requiring persons to pass a written test and obtain an 1 education certificate prior to operating an all-terrain 2 vehicle, off-road motorcycle, or off-road utility vehicle on 3 certain land, ice, and trails, providing fees, and making 4 penalties applicable. 5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 6 TLSB 1095YH (6) 91 th/ns
H.F. 73 Section 1. Section 321I.1, subsection 1, paragraph b, Code 1 2025, is amended to read as follows: 2 b. Off-road motorcycles shall be considered all-terrain 3 vehicles for the purpose of registration. Off-road motorcycles 4 shall also be considered all-terrain vehicles for the purpose 5 of titling if a title has not previously been issued pursuant 6 to chapter 321 . An operator of an off-road motorcycle is 7 subject to provisions governing the operation of all-terrain 8 vehicles in this chapter , but is exempt from the education 9 instruction and certification program requirements of sections 10 321I.25 and 321I.26 . 11 Sec. 2. Section 321I.1, subsection 11, Code 2025, is amended 12 to read as follows: 13 11. Education certificate means an all-terrain vehicle 14 education certificate, approved by the commission, which is 15 issued to a qualified applicant who is twelve years of age or 16 older . 17 Sec. 3. Section 321I.1, subsection 17, paragraph b, Code 18 2025, is amended to read as follows: 19 b. The operator of an off-road utility vehicle is subject 20 to provisions governing the operation of all-terrain vehicles 21 in section 321.234A , this chapter , and administrative rules , 22 but is exempt from the education instruction and certification 23 program requirements of sections 321I.25 and 321I.26 . An 24 operator of an off-road utility vehicle shall not operate the 25 vehicle on a designated riding area or designated riding trail 26 unless the department has posted signage indicating the riding 27 area or trail is open to the operation of off-road utility 28 vehicles. Off-road utility vehicles are subject to the dealer 29 registration and titling requirements of this chapter . A 30 motorized vehicle that was previously titled or is currently 31 titled under chapter 321 shall not be registered or operated 32 as an off-road utility vehicle. 33 Sec. 4. Section 321I.25, subsection 3, Code 2025, is amended 34 to read as follows: 35 -1- LSB 1095YH (6) 91 th/ns 1/ 4
H.F. 73 3. Upon completion of the course of instruction, the 1 commission shall provide for the administration of either a 2 written test or the demonstration of adequate riding skills to 3 any student who wishes to qualify for an education certificate. 4 Sec. 5. Section 321I.26, subsections 1 and 3, Code 2025, are 5 amended to read as follows: 6 1. A person twelve years of age or older but less than 7 eighteen years of age shall not operate an all-terrain vehicle , 8 off-road utility vehicle, or off-road motorcycle on public 9 land, public ice, a designated riding trail, or land purchased 10 with all-terrain vehicle registration funds in this state 11 without obtaining a valid education certificate approved by 12 the department and having the certificate in the persons 13 possession. This subsection does not apply if the operation 14 is part of a prescribed education training course and the 15 operation is under the direct supervision of a certified 16 all-terrain vehicle education instructor. 17 3. Any person who is required to have an education 18 certificate under this chapter and who has completed a course 19 of instruction established under section 321I.2, subsection 20 1 , paragraph i , including the successful passage of an 21 examination which includes either a written test relating to 22 such course of instruction or the demonstration of adequate 23 riding skills , shall be considered qualified to receive an 24 education certificate. 25 EXPLANATION 26 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 27 the explanations substance by the members of the general assembly. 28 Under current law, a person 12 years of age or older 29 but less than 18 years of age is required to obtain a valid 30 education certificate approved by the department of natural 31 resources (DNR) prior to, and have the certificate in the 32 persons possession while, operating an all-terrain vehicle 33 (ATV) on public land, public ice, a designated riding trail, or 34 land purchased with ATV registration funds in Iowa. Persons 35 -2- LSB 1095YH (6) 91 th/ns 2/ 4
H.F. 73 operating an off-road motorcycle or off-road utility vehicle 1 (UTV) are excepted from the education instruction, certificate, 2 and associated fee requirements. 3 This bill strikes such exceptions for off-road motorcycles 4 and UTVs and the age range associated with education 5 certificates. As a result, the bill requires every person to 6 obtain a valid education certificate approved by DNR prior to, 7 and have the certificate in the persons possession while, 8 operating an ATV, off-road motorcycle, or UTV on public land, 9 public ice, a designated riding trail, or land purchased with 10 ATV registration funds in Iowa. A person is not required to 11 possess an education certificate if the operation is part of a 12 prescribed education training course and the operation is under 13 the direct supervision of a certified ATV education instructor. 14 The bill does not amend similar education certification 15 requirements in Code chapter 321G (snowmobiles) for persons 12 16 though 17 years of age operating a snowmobile in Iowa. 17 Under current law, the fee for an education certificate is 18 $5 and an education certificate must be issued to a qualified 19 applicant who successfully completes an education course and 20 pays the fee. The fees are credited to the special ATV fund 21 and must be used for educational programs. Any person who 22 has completed a course of instruction established under DNR 23 rules, including the successful passage of an examination which 24 includes either a written test relating to such course of 25 instruction or the demonstration of adequate riding skills, is 26 considered qualified to receive an education certificate. An 27 education certificate does not expire and remains valid until 28 the certificate is suspended or revoked by the DNR director as 29 a result of a Code chapter 321I (ATVs) law or rule violation. 30 The bill strikes the ability of a person who wishes to obtain 31 an education certificate to do so by demonstrating adequate 32 riding skills, thus requiring all such persons to successfully 33 complete a written test. This aligns these provisions with 34 the written test requirements for students qualifying for a 35 -3- LSB 1095YH (6) 91 th/ns 3/ 4
H.F. 73 snowmobile education certificate under current law. 1 A person who is required to have a valid education 2 certificate and who operates an ATV, UTV, or off-road 3 motorcycle without a valid education certificate commits a 4 simple misdemeanor punishable by a $70 scheduled fine. 5 -4- LSB 1095YH (6) 91 th/ns 4/ 4