Capitol Notebook: Bill lowering handgun age limit to 18 advances through Iowa legislative ‘funnel’

DES MOINES — Legislation that would lower Iowa's minimum age to purchase a handgun from 21 to 18 advanced out of the House Judiciary Committee Thursday.

Lawmakers voted 17-4 to move House Study Bill 280 forward. Currently, 18-year-olds can purchase long guns in Iowa. There also are occupation-based exceptions for those ages 18 to 20.

Critics of the legislation argue lowing the age requirement could increase gun violence and suicides among young adults.

Supporters of the bill say current law infringes on Second Amendment rights, pointing to federal court decisions that have struck down age-based firearm restrictions.

Democratic Rep. Lindsay James, of Dubuque, expressed concern during the committee meeting, noting that firearm-related injuries are the second-leading cause of death among children and teens in the country.

Republican Rep. Steve Holt, the committee chairman, said he understands the concern, but asked committee members to think about a 20-year-old woman living in an apartment who would like to have a handgun to protect herself.

Republicans advance anti-'chemtrail' bill

An Iowa House bill that targets the alleged geoengineering of the state's weather cleared a committee Thursday with only Republican support.

House File 191 would prohibit the "intentional emission of air contaminants" to alter air temperature, weather or sunlight intensity.

Some residents who support the bill claim government agents have been spraying toxins and nanotechnology from high-flying planes to affect Iowa's near-term weather and long-term climate.

Democrats of the House's Environmental Protection Committee were unconvinced.

"Nobody is geoengineering the atmosphere," said Rep. Ken Croken, a Davenport Democrat. "There is nothing to ban."

At issue are the wispy white trails that jets leave in the sky. They are clouds known as "condensation trails" or "contrails" made up of water vapor and jet exhaust, and are not harmful to human health, according the Environmental Protection Agency.

But some sky-watching residents claim they are weather-altering toxins that imperil their health.

"We've had plenty of emails from constituents about the possibility of things being sprayed at the air, into the clouds," said Rep. Sam Wengryn, R-Pleasanton, who spoke in favor of the bill. "So kind of just want to get the ball rolling to take a look at it."

The committee voted 11-5 to advance the bill for consideration by the full House. Only Republicans voted in favor of it.

Doxxing legislation moves forward

Under Senate File 35, which was unanimously advanced out of the Iowa Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday, doxxing would be added to Iowa’s definition of harassment, making it easier to prosecute.

Doxxing is the act of posting someone’s private and identifiable information online, including addresses, phone numbers, Social Security number, email address or “any other information designed to allow other persons to threaten, intimidate, annoy or alarm the person.”

The legislation would allow those guilty of doxxing someone to be charged with an aggravated misdemeanor, punishable by up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $8,540 if found guilty.

The companion bill, House File 201, advanced out of the House Judiciary Committee 13-8 Wednesday.

School threat assessment teams advance

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School systems would have the authority to create assessment teams to improve student information sharing and collaboration when a student exhibits behavior that might threaten school safety under a bill that was unanimously advanced out of the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday.

Senate Study Bill 1099 would allow collaboration between schools and government agencies to provide services to students enrolled in kindergarten through 12th grade who are “experiencing or at risk of an emotional disturbance or mental illness, or who pose an articulable and significant threat to the health and safety of any person.”

The bill would authorize school districts, accredited non-public schools, charter schools and innovation zone schools to create these threat assessment teams.

This bill was introduced just over a year after a shooting at Perry Middle and High School that killed a sixth-grade student and a principal and injured six others. The gunman, a 17-year-old student, killed himself.

Democratic Sen. Janet Petersen, of Des Moines, said the bill should be amended to rename school threat assessment teams to safe school assessment teams.

“Everybody wants our children to be safe in school and words matter,” Petersen said.

The companion bill, House Study Bill 4, advanced out of the House Judiciary Committee in January.

Senate advances Reynolds’ energy proposal

Lawmakers on the Iowa Senate Commerce Committee unanimously advanced Gov. Kim Reynolds’ proposal to build and maintain reliable energy systems across the state.

Senate Study Bill 1112 proposes modernizing the existing Energy Infrastructure Revolving Loan Program, setting up anaerobic digester regulations, supporting nuclear power generation and allowing utility companies the right of first refusal on new electric transmission line infrastructure projects.

"As the world becomes more dependent on technology, and as AI becomes more prevalent, energy demand is dramatically increasing," Reynolds said during her Condition of the State address in January. "We need to look forward again, to make sure that our grid remains resilient and our prices low."

Republican Sen. Mike Bousselot, chair of the commerce committee, said the bill is “an attempt to modernize energy policies in Iowa in a reliable, affordable way.”

The legislation’s companion across the rotunda, House Study Bill 123, advanced out of committee 16-6 in February.

Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau