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Iowa’s Governor approves lowering age for possessing a handgun to 18

News

April 18th, 2025 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds has signed a bill into law that will lower the legal age for possessing a handgun in Iowa from 21 to 18. The law goes into effect July 1st. After a 2022 U-S Supreme Court ruling on gun rights, some federal judges have overturned state laws that bar 18, 19 and 20 year olds from owning or possessing a pistol or revolver. Iowans under the age of 21 will still be prohibited from buying a handgun from a licensed federal dealer.

Under the new law, a parent or guardian who lets a child under the age of 15 possess a handgun could be liable for any damages the child might cause.

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Governor Kim Reynolds also signed these bills into law:
SF 397: A bill for an act relating to assaults, including assaults on persons engaged in certain occupations and inmate assaults on department of corrections employees, and providing penalties.
SF 166: An act relating to bank utilization of filing services offered by the Secretary of State.
SF 266: An act relating to the theft, forgery, and fraud involving a gift card, and providing penalties.
SF 460: An act relating to home inspections, including persons authorized to perform home inspections and requirements for independent home inspection reports, providing penalties, and making penalties applicable.
HF 647: An act relating to the place of trial for certain criminal offenses.
HF 860: An act prohibiting state and local regulations on fuel-powered equipment based on the equipment’s fuel source.
HF 857: An act relating to the solicitation by a financial institution using prescreened trigger lead information from a consumer report.
HF 363: An act relating to the final disposition of remains.
HF 314: An act authorizing the waiver of preplacement investigations and reports in certain adoption proceedings.
HF 309: An act relating to the review by the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing of certain deficient practices by nursing facilities.
HF 367: An act relating to family interactions during an ongoing child in need of assistance proceeding.