Bill
Bill > HF176
IA HF176
A bill for an act relating to mandatory minimum sentences relating to the control, possession, receipt, or transportation of a firearm or offensive weapon by a felon and providing penalties.(Formerly HF 55.)
summary
Introduced
01/30/2025
01/30/2025
In Committee
04/03/2025
04/03/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
91st General Assembly
Bill Summary
This bill relates to mandatory minimum sentences relating to the control, possession, receipt, or transportation of a firearm or offensive weapon by a felon. Current law provides that a person who is convicted of a felony in a state or federal court, or who is adjudicated delinquent on the basis of conduct that would constitute a felony if committed by an adult, and who knowingly has under the person’s dominion and control or possession, receives, or transports or causes to be transported a firearm or offensive weapon is guilty of a class “D” felony. The bill establishes penalties for first, second, third, and fourth and subsequent violations, and requires commitment to the custody of the director of the department of corrections for a mandatory minimum term of incarceration. The bill provides the following: a first offense is a class “D” felony with a mandatory minimum term of confinement of two years; a second offense is a class “D” felony with a mandatory minimum term of confinement of four years; a third offense is a class “C” felony with a mandatory minimum term of confinement of seven years; and a fourth or subsequent offense is a class “C” felony with a mandatory minimum term of confinement of 10 years. The maximum period of confinement for a class “D” felony is five years, and the maximum period of confinement for a class “C” felony is ten years. The bill provides that the court shall not defer judgment or sentencing, or suspend execution of any mandatory minimum sentence of incarceration. The bill provides that earned time accrued by a person convicted under the bill is not applied to reduce any mandatory minimum sentence imposed.
AI Summary
This bill modifies Iowa's existing law regarding firearm possession by felons, establishing a graduated penalty system with increasingly severe mandatory minimum sentences based on the number of offenses. Specifically, for felons who knowingly possess, receive, or transport a firearm or offensive weapon, the penalties now range from a first offense with a two-year mandatory minimum sentence to a fourth or subsequent offense with a ten-year mandatory minimum sentence. The bill removes judicial discretion by preventing courts from deferring judgment or suspending the mandatory minimum sentences and stipulates that earned time credits cannot reduce these mandatory minimum periods. The escalating penalties are designed to impose more stringent consequences for repeated violations, with each subsequent offense triggering a longer mandatory minimum term of incarceration. Offenders will be committed to the custody of the department of corrections, with the severity of the felony class increasing from a class "D" to a class "C" for third and fourth/subsequent offenses.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (0)
No sponsors listed
Other Sponsors (1)
Public Safety (H)
Last Action
Referred to Public Safety. H.J. 895. (on 04/03/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=HF176 |
| Fiscal Note - Mandatory Minimum Sentences, Possession of Firearms by Felons | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/FN/1521058.pdf |
| BillText | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGI/91/attachments/HF176.html |
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