Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Iowa General Assembly, fetched 2026-07-28. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
House File 24 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 24 BY SORENSEN A BILL FOR An Act relating to public contact with dangerous wild animals, 1 and making penalties applicable. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 1313YH (4) 91 as/js H.F. 24 Section 1. Section 717F.1, subsection 5, paragraph a, Code 1 2025, is amended by adding the following new subparagraph: 2 NEW SUBPARAGRAPH . (11) A member of the subdivision 3 selachimorpha of the neoselachii clade, which are any species 4 of sharks, that can grow to more than twenty-three inches in 5 length or that has a documented history of biting humans. 6 Sec. 2. Section 717F.4, Code 2025, is amended by adding the 7 following new subsection: 8 NEW SUBSECTION . 13. The person must not allow any member of 9 the public to have direct contact with a dangerous wild animal 10 as provided in section 717F.14. 11 Sec. 3. Section 717F.7, unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2025, 12 is amended to read as follows: 13 This chapter , excluding section 717F.14, does not apply to 14 any of the following: 15 Sec. 4. Section 717F.13, Code 2025, is amended to read as 16 follows: 17 717F.13 Criminal penalties. 18 A person who intentionally causes a dangerous wild animal to 19 escape in violation of this chapter , or who violates section 20 717F.14, is guilty of an aggravated misdemeanor. 21 Sec. 5. NEW SECTION . 717F.14 Public contact with dangerous 22 wild animals prohibited. 23 1. Notwithstanding section 717F.4, 717F.7, or any other 24 provision of law, a person shall not allow any member of the 25 public to come in direct contact with a dangerous wild animal. 26 2. For purposes of this section: 27 a. “Direct contact” means physical contact or proximity 28 where physical contact is possible, including but not limited 29 to any proximity without a permanent barrier designed to 30 prevent physical contact between the public and a dangerous 31 wild animal. 32 b. “Member of the public” means a person not authorized to 33 be in direct contact with a dangerous wild animal pursuant to 34 an exemption in section 717F.7. 35 -1- LSB 1313YH (4) 91 as/js 1/ 2 H.F. 24 EXPLANATION 1 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 2 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 3 This bill relates to public contact with dangerous wild 4 animals. 5 The bill provides that notwithstanding any provision of 6 law, a person shall not allow any member of the public to come 7 in direct contact with a dangerous wild animal. The bill 8 defines “direct contact” as physical contact or proximity 9 where physical contact is possible, including but not limited 10 to any proximity without a permanent barrier designed to 11 prevent physical contact between the public and a dangerous 12 wild animal. The bill defines “member of the public” as a 13 person not otherwise authorized to be in direct contact with 14 a dangerous wild animal. A violation of Code section 717F.14 15 is an aggravated misdemeanor. An aggravated misdemeanor is 16 punishable by confinement for no more than two years and a fine 17 of at least $855 but not more than $8,540. 18 The bill adds sharks that can grow to more than 23 inches in 19 length or that have a documented history of biting humans to 20 the definition of “dangerous wild animal”. 21 -2- LSB 1313YH (4) 91 as/js 2/ 2
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