Allowing the carrying of weapons on the grounds of a school under certain circumstances

Sponsored by Rep. Dr. Steven P. Bradley (R), Rep. Zach Dieken (R), Rep. Samantha Fett (R), Rep. Jason Gearhart (R), Rep. Henry Stone (R)

Topics:K–12 education Firearms

Write your legislators about it

Official bill page Lobbyist declarations One-pager to print

Where it is now

Done: IntroducedFebruary 10, 2026
Stopped: SubcommitteeDied when the General Assembly ended
Next: House committeeFunnel: by February 20, 2026
Next: Passes the House
Next: Senate committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
Next: Passes the Senate
Next: To the Governor
Next: Signed into law

Died when the session ended The 2026 session adjourned on May 3, 2026, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

AI summary People with a valid permit to carry weapons would be allowed to have a firearm on school grounds. To do this, they must keep the weapon on their body for a lawful reason and always keep it under their direct control. Currently, carrying a firearm on school property is considered a felony.¹

Read the official explanation

Under current law, a person who goes armed with, carries, or transports a firearm of any kind, whether concealed or not, on the grounds of a school commits a class “D” felony, with certain exceptions. This bill allows a person who holds a valid permit to carry weapons to carry weapons on the grounds of a school if the person carries a firearm for a lawful purpose on or about the person’s body, and the firearm remains continuously under the person’s control.

Why it matters. People who hold a valid permit to carry weapons would be allowed to carry a firearm on school grounds if the weapon is for a lawful purpose and remains under their continuous control. Currently, carrying a firearm on school grounds is a class “D” felony except in specific circumstances.²

Full bill text³

Iowa Code it changes

Amends§724.4B

How the Code works⁴

Courts interpreting this law

Criminal appeal No. 24-2032
Iowa Court of Appeals · November 4, 2026 · cites §724.25, §724.26
Criminal appeal No. 25-2197
Iowa Supreme Court · October 2, 2026 · cites §724.25, §724.26
Criminal appeal No. 25-0575
Iowa Supreme Court · June 26, 2026 · cites §724.26, §724.31
Criminal appeal No. 24-0239
Iowa Supreme Court · June 12, 2026 · cites §724.4, §724.25, §724.26, §724.31
Criminal appeal No. 24-0261
Iowa Supreme Court · June 27, 2025 · cites §724.8, §724.8B
Criminal appeal No. 23-1391
Iowa Supreme Court · June 27, 2025 · cites §724.26

Opinions of Iowa’s appeals courts that cite this part of the Iowa Code.⁵

Lobbying

4 for · 8 against · 0 undecided · Who →

Notes

The summary is written by an AI model from the official explanation. It can miss details; the explanation and the bill are what count. ↩
Written by an AI model from the official explanation and fiscal note only, for bills that passed a chamber, drew heavy lobbying or carry a large cost. It doesn’t weigh whether the bill is a good idea. ↩
The explanation is printed with the bill as introduced and written by the Legislative Services Agency, the Legislature’s nonpartisan staff. Amendments adopted later aren’t reflected in it. ↩
Code sections are read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. ↩
Read from each opinion’s text: Supreme Court opinions since November 2017, Court of Appeals opinions from November 2026. Family, juvenile and private cases aren’t listed. ↩