Senate File 7 - Introduced SENATE FILE 7 BY LOFGREN A BILL FOR An Act relating to fishing privileges of disabled veterans, and 1 making penalties applicable. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 1041XS (2) 91 sb/js
S.F. 7 Section 1. Section 483A.6A, subsection 2, Code 2025, is 1 amended to read as follows: 2 2. A Except for a nonresident qualified under section 3 483A.24, subsection 16, paragraph b , a nonresident fishing 4 for paddlefish on the Missouri or Big Sioux river is required 5 to have a fishing license that is valid in Iowa and, in 6 addition, purchase a nonresident paddlefish fishing license. 7 Sec. 2. Section 483A.24, subsection 16, Code 2025, is 8 amended to read as follows: 9 16. a. Upon payment of the fee established by rules adopted 10 pursuant to section 483A.1 for a lifetime fishing license or 11 lifetime hunting and fishing combined license, the department 12 shall issue a lifetime fishing license or lifetime hunting and 13 fishing combined license to a resident of Iowa who has served 14 in the armed forces of the United States on federal active 15 duty and who was disabled or was a prisoner of war during that 16 veterans military service. The department shall prepare 17 an application to be used by a person requesting a lifetime 18 fishing license or lifetime hunting and fishing combined 19 license under this subsection . The department of veterans 20 affairs shall assist the department in verifying the status or 21 claims of applicants under this subsection . As used in this 22 subsection , disabled means entitled to a service connected 23 rating under 38 U.S.C. ch. 11. 24 b. A person, regardless of whether the person is a resident, 25 may fish without acquiring a fishing license if that person 26 has served in the armed forces of the United States on federal 27 active duty and was disabled during that veterans military 28 service, as verified by the department of veterans affairs. 29 While fishing pursuant to this paragraph, the person shall, 30 upon request of a peace officer, display proof of the persons 31 veteran status and disability status in the same manner and 32 subject to the same procedures and penalties as provided by 33 section 483A.19. 34 EXPLANATION 35 -1- LSB 1041XS (2) 91 sb/js 1/ 2
S.F. 7 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 1 the explanations substance by the members of the general assembly. 2 This bill relates to fishing privileges for disabled 3 veterans. Under current law, a resident who served in the 4 armed forces of the United States on federal active duty and 5 who was disabled during that veterans military service is 6 eligible to obtain a lifetime fishing license or lifetime 7 hunting and fishing combined license. 8 Under the bill, any person, regardless of whether the person 9 is a resident, who is a disabled veteran may fish without 10 acquiring a fishing license if the persons disability occurred 11 during the veterans military service. A person fishing in 12 such manner shall, upon request of a peace officer, display 13 proof of the persons veteran status and disability status. 14 A person who fails to provide the necessary documentation 15 is guilty of a simple misdemeanor punishable as a scheduled 16 violation with a fine of $35. A person charged with failing to 17 produce the necessary documentation may avoid conviction if the 18 person produces in court, within a reasonable time, proof of 19 the persons veteran and disability status. 20 The bill also makes a conforming change to the Code section 21 concerning nonresident paddlefish fishing licenses and tags. 22 -2- LSB 1041XS (2) 91 sb/js 2/ 2