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SF 488IOWASession 2025-2026State Billdead
Did Not Advance

Iowa authorizes Gadsden flag special registration plates and updates license plate frame rules

Original title: A bill for an act relating to vehicle registration plates, including registration plate frames and Gadsden flag special registration plates, providing fees, and making appropriations.(Formerly SSB 1162 .)

Last action · May 20, 2025: Explanation of vote. H.J. 1223 .

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Proposed

Iowa authorizes the Department of Transportation to issue Gadsden flag special vehicle registration plates for a $50 initial and annual fee, appropriating proceeds to the Department of Public Safety for firearm safety and rights education grants. The measure also allows vehicle owners to use license plate frames that obscure the county name, provided all letters and numbers remain fully visible.

Why it matters

Vehicle owners may now purchase a specialized Gadsden flag plate that directs fee revenue toward firearm safety grants, and drivers face fewer restrictions regarding license plate frames covering the county name.

Background
  • Senate File 488 originated in the Iowa Senate Committee on Transportation and had a companion bill in the House designated as House File 525. context
  • The Gadsden flag is a historical American flag featuring a coiled rattlesnake and the motto 'Don't Tread on Me', commonly associated with libertarian and constitutional rights movements. context

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

motor vehicle owners

Directly affected

Department of Transportation

The department is authorized to design and issue Gadsden flag plates without minimum order requirements.

Directly affected

Department of Public Safety

The department receives appropriations to distribute grants for firearm safety and education.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Gadsden flag registration plate cost?
The initial and annual special fee for letter-number designated Gadsden flag plates is $50, paid in addition to regular annual registration fees. Personalized versions require an additional $25 initial fee and $5 annual fee.
Where do the fees collected from Gadsden flag plates go?
Fees are deposited into the , and equivalent amounts minus $1 per issuance or renewal are transferred to the state general fund and appropriated to the Department of Public Safety for firearm safety and rights education grants.
Are license plate frames that cover the county name now legal?
Yes. The bill amends section 321.37 to remove the requirement that registration plate frames must permit full view of the name of the county, provided all letters and numerals remain fully visible.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Votes, people, money & the original source

Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Withdrawn.

Procedural history

43 actions
  1. May 20, 2025House
    Explanation of vote. H.J. 1223 .
  2. May 14, 2025Senate
    Subcommittee: Schultz, Bisignano, and Dawson. S.J. 1042 .
  3. May 14, 2025House
    Withdrawn. H.J. 1219 .
  4. May 12, 2025SenateIntroduced
    Read first time, referred to Ways and Means. S.J. 968 .
  5. May 12, 2025House
    Message from House. S.J. 968 .
  6. May 12, 2025House
    Immediate message. H.J. 1140 .
Show 37 earlier actions
  1. May 12, 2025HouseFloor
    Passed House , yeas 64, nays 26. H.J. 1128 .
  2. May 12, 2025House
    Amendment H-1303 , yeas 27, nays 63, filed, lost. H.J. 1126 .
  3. May 12, 2025House
    Amendment H-1304 , yeas 28, nays 62, filed, lost. H.J. 1126 .
  4. May 12, 2025House
    Amendment H-1317 , yeas 31, nays 58, filed, lost. H.J. 1125 .
  5. May 12, 2025House
    Amendment H-1316 , yeas 29, nays 60, filed, lost. H.J. 1124 .
  6. May 12, 2025House
    Amendment H-1312 filed, withdrawn. H.J. 1123 .
  7. May 12, 2025House
    Amendment H-1311 filed, withdrawn. H.J. 1123 .
  8. May 12, 2025House
    Amendment H-1310 filed, withdrawn. H.J. 1123 .
  9. May 12, 2025House
    Amendment H-1309 filed, withdrawn. H.J. 1123 .
  10. May 12, 2025House
    Amendment H-1308 filed, withdrawn. H.J. 1123 .
  11. May 12, 2025House
    Amendment H-1307 filed, withdrawn. H.J. 1123 .
  12. May 12, 2025House
    Amendment H-1306 filed, withdrawn. H.J. 1123 .
  13. May 12, 2025House
    Amendment H-1305 , yeas 27, nays 63, filed, lost. H.J. 1122 .
  14. Mar 21, 2025HouseIntroduced
    Introduced, placed on Ways and Means calendar. H.J. 772 .
  15. Mar 21, 2025Iowa Legislature
    Committee report approving bill, renumbered as HF 974 .
  16. Mar 20, 2025House
    Committee vote: Yeas, 16. Nays, 8. Excused, 1. H.J. 769 .
  17. Mar 20, 2025House
    Committee report, recommending passage. H.J. 769 .
  18. Mar 17, 2025Senate
    Subcommittee: Schultz, Dawson, and Dotzler. S.J. 551 .
  19. Mar 12, 2025Iowa Legislature
    Subcommittee recommends passage.
  20. Mar 11, 2025Iowa Legislature
    Subcommittee Meeting: 03/12/2025 12:30PM RM 304.
  21. Mar 6, 2025SenateCommittee
    Referred to Ways and Means. S.J. 427 .
  22. Mar 4, 2025Senate
    Committee report, approving bill. S.J. 409 .
  23. Mar 4, 2025SenateIntroduced
    Introduced, placed on calendar. S.J. 400 .
  24. Mar 3, 2025Iowa Legislature
    Committee report approving bill, renumbered as SF 488 .
  25. Mar 3, 2025Iowa Legislature
    Subcommittee recommends passage.
  26. Feb 26, 2025House
    Subcommittee: Young, Behn and Wilson. H.J. 441 .
  27. Feb 20, 2025HouseIntroduced
    Introduced, referred to Ways and Means. H.J. 379 .
  28. Feb 20, 2025Senate
    Subcommittee Meeting: 02/26/2025 1:30PM Senate Lounge.
  29. Feb 20, 2025Iowa Legislature
    Committee report approving bill, renumbered as HF 525 .
  30. Feb 19, 2025Iowa Legislature
    Subcommittee: Webster, Bennett, and Dickey.
  31. Feb 19, 2025Iowa LegislatureIntroduced
    Introduced, referred to Transportation.
  32. Feb 19, 2025House
    Committee vote: Yeas, 14. Nays, 7. H.J. 371 .
  33. Feb 19, 2025House
    Committee report, recommending passage. H.J. 371 .
  34. Feb 18, 2025Iowa Legislature
    Subcommittee recommends passage.
  35. Feb 17, 2025House
    Subcommittee Meeting: 02/18/2025 12:15PM House Lounge.
  36. Feb 11, 2025House
    Subcommittee: Meggers, Cooling and Young. H.J. 292 .
  37. Feb 11, 2025HouseIntroduced
    Introduced, referred to Transportation. H.J. 287 .

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

financial connection95% confidence

Fee Revenue Appropriation for Firearm Grants

Proceeds generated from Gadsden flag plate fees are funneled through the road use tax fund and general fund to finance firearm safety and rights education grants, prioritizing organizations like state NRA associations.

Department of TransportationDepartment of Public Safetytreasurer of state

Connected Entities

treasurer of state, Department of Transportation, national rifle association and 2 more
Persontreasurer of state“State official receiving monthly fee deposits from Gadsden flag plates”Map →
OrganizationDepartment of Transportation“State agency responsible for designing and issuing vehicle registration plates”Map →
Organizationnational rifle association“Official state association eligible for grant preference”Map →
OrganizationDepartment of Public Safety“State agency receiving appropriations for firearm education and safety grants”Map →
OrganizationCOMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION“Senate committee that introduced Senate File 488”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.legis.iowa.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance20
    Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 45)
  • Controversy65
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz50
    Current news / social attention level

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