SF2280: Professional Weapons Permits

Enhances protections for judicial officers and certain legal professionals by expanding the list of professions eligible for professional permits to carry weapons, clarifying permit procedures, and standardizing permit validity. It creates new criminal offenses for threatening or maliciously disclosing personal information about judicial officers or their family, and redefines harassment to include true threats against public officials. The bill also authorizes the supreme court to impose additional permit requirements for judicial officers.

Key Points & Impacts

• Adds judicial officers, attorney general, deputy attorney general, and assistant attorney general to those eligible for professional permits to carry weapons under Iowa law.

• Permits issued to these individuals authorize them to go armed anywhere in the state at all times, including on school grounds, during employment.

• Permits for these professionals remain valid through the period of employment and must be surrendered upon termination of employment.

• Judicial officers, when carrying weapons inside a courtroom, must do so in a concealed manner (except for peace/correctional officers).

• Supreme court is granted authority to require additional training or requirements for judicial officers holding a permit.

• Creates a new class 'C' felony offense for threatening a judicial officer or their immediate family member with intent to harm, intimidate, prevent duties, or retaliate.

• Establishes a serious misdemeanor for maliciously sharing personal information (address, phone, physical location) of a judicial officer or immediate family with harmful intent.

• Expands the definition of harassment to include communicating a true threat to a public official, if the official becomes aware within one year.

Signed by Governor May 6, 2026. Takes effect July 1, 2026.