Bills › 88th General Assembly
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to the right of the people to keep and bear arms
Constitutional amendment Ratified by voters →
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 28, 2019
- Done: Approved in committeeFebruary 21, 2019
- Done: Passes the SenateMarch 13, 2019
- Done: Passes the HouseMarch 13, 2019
- Done: Passed again (89th GA, SJR 7)January 28, 2021
- Done: Approved by votersNovember 8, 2022
Passed both chambers A constitutional amendment must pass two General Assemblies in a row, then be approved by voters. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
This joint resolution proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa providing that the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. The sovereign state of Iowa affirms and recognizes this right to be a fundamental individual right. Any and all restrictions of this right shall be subject to strict scrutiny. The joint resolution, if adopted, would be referred to the next general assembly for adoption a second time before being submitted to the electorate for ratification.
Changed since by amendment H-1017; see Amendments.
Fiscal note
Cost: up to $14,400 Compare with other bills
AI summary This bill proposes an amendment to the Iowa Constitution regarding the right to keep and bear arms. The Iowa Secretary of State’s Office would incur an estimated cost of $14,400 in fiscal year 2021 for initial newspaper publications. If the amendment is passed a second time, it is estimated to cost $178,200 in fiscal year 2023 for publications in all 99 counties.2
Read the fiscal note
Description
Senate Joint Resolution 18 proposes an amendment to the Iowa Constitution related to the right of the people to keep and bear arms, explicitly stating that this right shall not be infringed. The amendment states that the sovereign state of Iowa affirms and recognizes this right to be a fundamental individual right, of which any and all restrictions shall be subject to strict scrutiny.
Background
Iowa Code section 49A.1 and the Iowa Constitution require that when an amendment to the Constitution is first passed by the General Assembly, and has been referred to the next succeeding General Assembly, the State Commissioner of Elections (Secretary of State) is required to publish the proposed amendment in two newspapers of general circulation in each Iowa congressional district once each month for three consecutive months prior to the start of the next General Assembly. Upon passage of the same amendment by the second General Assembly, the amendment is to be published in newspapers in all 99 counties once each month for three consecutive months immediately preceding the general election.
Assumptions
- The average cost to publish an amendment in a single newspaper is $600.
- Publication of the initial amendment would occur in eight newspapers (two in each congressional district) for a three-month period.
- Subsequent publication of the amendment would occur in 99 newspapers (one in each county) for a three-month period.
Fiscal Impact
Constitutional Amendment Publication Cost. The estimated cost to publish a proposed Constitutional amendment passed by the General Assembly during the 2019 Legislative Session would be $14,400 (8 newspapers x 3 months x $600). The costs would be incurred in the fall of 2020 (FY 2021).
Assuming the proposed amendment is passed a second time during the 2021 Legislative Session, the estimated cost would be $178,200 (99 newspapers x 3 months x $600). The costs would be incurred in the fall of 2022 (FY 2023).
The above publication costs would be incurred by the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office.
Sources
- Legislative Services Agency
- Office of the Secretary of State
- Final Fiscal Note – Weapons, Right to Keep and Bear Arms · May 14, 2019 · $14,400
- Weapons, Right to Keep and Bear Arms · March 12, 2019 · $14,400
- Weapons, Right to Keep and Bear Arms · March 11, 2019 · $14,400
Lobbying
9 for · 12 against · 5 undecided · Who →
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- HJR 4 Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to the right of t…89th General Assembly · WithdrawnSimilar
Matched by wording or an identical title.