Iowa House Bill HF21

Iowa 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/14/25
• Refer: 1/14/25

Caption

A bill for an act relating to fishing privileges of disabled veterans, and making penalties applicable.(See HF 387.)

Summary

HF 21 would expand fishing privileges for certain disabled veterans in Iowa. Under current law, a resident veteran who served on federal active duty and became disabled during that service may obtain a lifetime fishing license or lifetime hunting-and-fishing combination license. The bill would go further by allowing any disabled veteran, including nonresidents, to fish in Iowa without first obtaining a fishing license, so long as the disability occurred during military service and is verified by the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill also requires a person fishing under this exemption to show proof of veteran and disability status if requested by a peace officer. If the person cannot produce the required documentation, the bill makes the violation a simple misdemeanor treated as a scheduled violation with a $35 fine, though a person could avoid conviction by later producing proof in court within a reasonable time. In addition, HF 21 makes a conforming change to Iowa’s paddlefish licensing provisions so the new exemption does not conflict with existing nonresident paddlefish rules.

Impact

HF 21 would amend Iowa Code section 483A.24 to create a broader license exemption for disabled veterans and would also revise section 483A.6A to conform the paddlefish licensing rules. The practical effect is to remove the fishing license requirement for qualifying disabled veterans regardless of residency, while preserving enforcement authority through documentation checks and penalties for noncompliance. The bill would affect the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Veterans Affairs, disabled veterans, and nonresident anglers, especially those fishing for paddlefish on the Missouri or Big Sioux rivers.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests strong support for the bill in committee, with the House Committee on Natural Resources reporting the bill 21-0. The bill’s subject matter also indicates a generally favorable posture toward expanding benefits for disabled veterans. However, the fact that the bill was later withdrawn suggests it did not advance to enactment in this form, even though the committee response was unanimous.

Contention

The main policy issue is whether Iowa should extend free fishing privileges beyond resident disabled veterans to all disabled veterans, including nonresidents. Support would likely come from veterans’ advocates and members favoring expanded recognition of military service, while any concerns would center on enforcement, proof of eligibility, and the loss of license revenue or administrative complexity. The bill also includes a penalty provision for failing to show documentation, which could be a point of concern for those worried about criminalizing paperwork failures, though the penalty is relatively minor and can be cured by later proof.