Bills Associated with Iowa County Conservation System

Expands definitions of "bicycle," "land," and "recreational purposes" related to the use of private land for public recreation. Defines bicycle as a device having at least one seat that is propelled by human power or low-speed electric regardless of the number of wheels. Adds to the definition of land to include portions of privately owned railroad crossings used as part of a path or trail used for recreational purposes. Adds to the definition of recreational purpose to include jogging, walking, and bicycle riding. Signed by Governor May 1, 2024. Takes effect July 1, 2024.

Allows the two special deer hunting licenses issued to a resident landowner or tenants to be used without first designating the season of use for the licesne. Allows those licenses to be used in any open season, rather than just the season originally designated. Signed by governor April 10, 2024. Takes effect July 1, 2024.

Allows registered ATVs and UTVs to operate within state park boundaries on designated roadways where motor vehicles are allowed. Sets maximum speed limits for vehicles with provisions for lower limits.

Signed by Governor May 1, 2024. Takes effect July 1, 2024.

Increases fines for a person who knowingly trespasses while hunting to $500 for the first violation, $1,000 for a second violation, and $1,500 for a third or subsequent violation. Signed by Governor April 19, 2024. Takes effect July 1, 2024.

Requires the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to create recommendations to make state parks more accessible for people with disabilities and advertise those changes on their website. 

Signed by Governor May 16, 2024. Takes effect July 1, 2024.

Allows both common interest communities and associations adjacent to lakes to establish policies for their members and guests regarding vessel operation, including equipment specifications. These entities can use private buoys and safety installations to convey these policies, provided they comply with relevant regulations. The bill defines terms such as "association" and "public lake" and clarifies the scope of their application

Makes the following changes to organization, structure, and functions of state and local governments and adjusts code to to reflect these changes.

Division 1 -- Department of Natural Resources (DNR) -- grants the director of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) the authority to designate specific children from the state training school to carry out tasks for the DNR within state parks, game and forest areas, and other DNR-controlled lands. Eliminates the requirement for DNR to offer permanent housing to these children.
Division 2 -- Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL) -- states that the workers’ compensation commissioner serves at the governor's discretion rather than having a fixed term. Removes the requirement for full-time executive directors for certain boards and allows for the appointment of one individual to serve as executive director for multiple boards. Adjusts the handling of contractor registration fees, consolidating them into a single fund and repealing a related fund. Revises fee-setting procedures for health-related professional boards, granting oversight to the DIAL and requiring annual reviews to ensure fees cover expenses and are comparable to those in other states. Corrects a reference in the state plumbing code and expands the definition of licensing boards to include the real estate appraiser examining board. Aligns references in various sections with recent updates to the department's structure.
Division 3 -- Department of Transportation (DOT) -- transfers the rulemaking authority for safety regulations regarding the movement of implements of husbandry and animal-drawn vehicles on roadways from the DOT to the Department of Public Safety (DPS). Changes the deadline for presenting the DOT's proposed budget to the state transportation commission. Grants the DOT director authority to establish divisions within the DOT as needed. Specifies the DOT's responsibility for departmental operations, planning, programming, highway programs, modal programs, and enforcement activities. 
Division 4 -- Department of Education  (DE) -- gives the DE director authority to assign duties to various divisions within DE and allows for the reassignment of specific responsibilities within DE from July 1, 2024. Modifies salary and benefit handling for full-time salaried employees working less than 12 months per year and permits the employment of hourly staff for less than 12 months annually, with specific wage and benefit protocols outlined. Extends certain extracurricular contract and coaching endorsement provisions to employees of the Iowa educational services for the blind and visually impaired program and employees of the Iowa school for the deaf. Introduces a new code section exempting salaried employees of these programs from vacation leave provisions, instead providing for the accrual of personal leave days. References to "professional" staff are replaced with "salaried" staff. Applies procedures regarding staff discretion and dismissal to salaried staff.
Division 5 -- Department of Corrections (DOC) -- clarifies the governing body when a reserve peace officer is employed by the state of Iowa. Removes certain language related to employees of judicial district departments of correctional services due to their integration into the DOC. Community-based corrections facilities under the DOC's responsibilities for offender control, treatment, and rehabilitation. Adjusts provisions regarding district directors' duties, authority, and compensation. Modifies the coordination between the DOC and judicial district departments for inmate quartering and supervision after working hours. 
Division 6 -- Department of Revenue (DOR) -- specifies that the Iowa Lottery Division is a division within DOR. Changes various provisions governing the duties of the Iowa Lottery administrator, including reporting requirements and board meeting procedures. Grants the DOR the authority to operate self-service kiosks for lottery ticket distribution and adjust distribution requirements accordingly. Makes adjustments to sections regarding lottery retailer selection, license handling, prize awards, and security protocols, replacing outdated terms and clarifying responsibilities. Establishes an exception for the Iowa Lottery Division within DOR's authority to establish, abolish, and consolidate divisions. 
Division 7 -- Iowa Department of Workforce Development (IWD) --  includes the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training Program, which is jointly administered with HHS, in the list of programs managed by the IWD. Removes the requirement for community colleges to jointly implement adult education and literacy programs with IWD. However, IWD is still mandated to consult with community colleges when establishing standards and adopting rules for administering the program.
Division 8 -- Department of Public Safety (DPS) -- removes the requirement for the director of the Office of Drug Control Policy to submit an annual report to the governor and general assembly by November 1 of each year regarding activities and programs related to drug enforcement, substance use disorder treatment, and prevention and education programs. 
Division 9 -- Economic Development Authority (IEDA) and Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) Reports -- requires the IEDA director to submit an annual report to the authority board and the general assembly by January 31 each year detailing their activities from the previous fiscal year. Requires the IFA director to submit a similar annual report to the governor and general assembly by January 15 each year.
Division 10 -- Economic Development Authority (IEDA) and Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) Programs -- removes requirements for the IEDA to run certain internship programs and shifts this responsibility to the Iowa Department of Workforce Development. Ensures that any internships or financial aid awarded by the IEDA before the change remains valid under the new setup.
Division 11 -- Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) -- removes the requirement for the council to approve or disapprove licensing applications and related cases. Transfers certain licensing responsibilities for substance use disorder programs from the council to HHS. Updates confidentiality provisions for program records and specifies individuals and officials who may access confidential information. Adjusts procedures for debt setoffs and empowers the HHS director to engage in specific real estate activities. Modifies the process for people who owe child support to withdraw their objections by allowing written requests to be submitted to child support services.
Division 12 -- State Salaries of Appointed State Officers -- Establishes salary ranges for certain appointed state officers for fiscal years starting from July 1, 2024. Specifies that the governor shall set salaries for nonelected individuals appointed within the executive branch of state government. Salary determination considers factors such as the person's experience, changes in job duties, performance, and subordinate salaries. However, certain positions have salary determination responsibilities assigned to specific entities. 
Division 13 -- Office for State-Federal Relations -- Removes the requirement for the office to be situated in Washington, D.C., and instead states that the State-Federal Relations Office is administratively attached to the Office of the Governor.
Division 14 -- Historical Sites -- Removes the requirement for state agencies owning historical sites, except the state board of regents, to enter agreements with the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) for site management. Instead, it mandates DAS to consult with the state historic preservation officer when establishing standards and criteria for historical property acquisition and preservation. Adds developing preservation standards for historical sites to the duties of the state historic preservation officer. Requires state agencies owning historical sites to consult with the preservation officer before making modifications that could affect the site's listing on the national register of historic places and allows them to enter agreements with the preservation officer for site management. 
Division 15 -- Department of Management -- Mandates DOM to oversee a statewide integrated justice information system. Shifts responsibilities from HHS to DOM for maintaining an Iowa statistical analysis center, an Iowa correctional policy project, and a multi agency information system for juvenile and adult court records.

Signed by Governor May 17, 2024.

Appropriates $222.4 million from gambling revenues  (Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund, or RIIF) to various infrastructure projects in fiscal year 2025 (July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025).  No change in funding for the following: water quality initiative ($8.2 million), community attraction & tourism (CAT) grants ($10 million), regional sports authorities ($700,000), state park infrastructure ($5 million), rural YMCAs ($250,000), state housing trust fund ($3 million), lake restoration ($9.6 million), water trails/low head dam removal ($1.5 million), community forestry grants ($250,000), recreational trails ($2.5 million), funding for commercial ($1.9 million) and general ($1 million) airports, and county fairs ($1.06 million). Adds back $500,000 in funding to public transit grants ($1.5 million total) and $1.5 million for railroad revolving loan funds ($2 million total).  Adds $1 million new appropriation to improve accessibility in state parks and recreation areas and an additional $1 million line item for recreational trails (for total of $3.5 million). I ncreases renewable fuels infrastructure by $2 million but eliminates the $5 million supplemental appropriation made last year ($12 million total appropriation, of which $2 million is intended to be one-time funding). Increases the Destination Iowa appropriation by $3.5 million ($10 million total). New appropriations for renovation of the USS Iowa Battleship deck ($750,000), Woodward State Resource Center tunnel/HVAC repairs ($14.5 million FY25, $14.3 million FY26), state civil commitment unit for sex offenders renovations ($7.05 million), levee improvement fund ($10 million), state medical examiner office expansion ($5 million FY25, $28 million FY26, $3.3 million FY27), DNR law enforcement radios ($1.6 million), and cybersecurity in Secretary of State's Office ($324,000). Includes $10 million appropriation for the major events & tourism fund (contingent on passage of SF 2419, which did not pass). Effective July 1, 2024. You can read the final nonpartisan staff review at: legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/NOBA/1450057.pdf.

Proposes an ammendment to Iowa's Constitution to regulate tax bills and set one flat rate for individual income taxes. The ammendment would require that any bill raising income tax rates or adding new income-based taxes be approved by at least two-thirds of both the Iowa House of Representatives and the Iowa Senate. Additionally, it forbids Iowa from having different income tax rates for different income levels. If passed, the ammendment would need to be voted on again by the next general assembly before being approved by the public.

Repeals gender balance requirements for appointed local and state government boards, councils, commissions. Signed by governor April 3, 2024. Takes effect July 1, 2024.

Addresses regulations surrounding the acquisition and holding of agricultural land in Iowa by both domestic and foreign entities. The bill eliminates the suspension of registration requirements for foreign entities, imposes penalties for failure to comply with reporting obligations, and adjusts the civil penalties for violations. Signed by governor April 9, 2024. Takes effect July 1, 2024.

Language was taken out that would have moved up the school start date; it was not in the final version of the bill.  The bill simply deals with charter schools now, including allowing students to participate in public school athletics. Signed by Governor May 17, 2024. Takes effect July 1, 2024.

Conservation & Water Quality Committee. Implements some (but not all) of the Governor's Boards & Commissions Review recommendations.  Requires state boards & commissions be reviewed every four years. Requires all boards & commissions to allow remote participation (hybrid or virtual meetings). Allows boards & commissions to meet as needed (rather than on a schedule).  Allows DIAL staff to administratively close complaints that are not related to rule or law violations. Requires DIAL to review all professional licensing renewal cycles and develop a recommendation to create a uniform calendar for renewals across all licensing categories. Retains the requirement that the Board of Nursing's executive director be a registered nurse. Reduces the Board of Nursing from 7 to 5 members (eliminating one active RN, one nurse-educator, and one member of the public, and adding one ARNP). The new Board of Nursing will be 4 nurses (1 nurse educator, 1 active RN, 1 ARNP, and 1 LPN) and 1 member of the public. Makes the DIAL director the head of the nursing compact (but the director can designate someone else). Pays HHS Council members $10,000/year and makes the council advisory.  Eliminates the Children's Behavioral Health System Board (gives duties to HHS Council). Merges boards of psychology, behavioral health, and social work (but adds advisory committees for each of the former boards to make recommendations to full merged Board of Behavioral Health). Merges Dual Party Relay Council & Commission for Deaf Services. Merges the Child Death Review Team, Child Fatality Review Committee, and Domestic Violence Death Review Committee into a single State Mortality Review Committee. Establishes a new Soil Adds new Special Education Council (parents of children with various disabilities). Eliminates the Public Employment Relations Board and transfers authority to the Employment Appeals Board. Reduces board members on Civil Rights Commission (7:5), Human Rights Board (11:7), Innovation Council (29:9), State Historical Board (12:7), and Board of Education (10:9).  Eliminates the following boards & commissions: Advisory Committee for Children with Special Health Needs & HAWK-I Board; Advisory Committee for Perinatal Guidelines; Advisory Council for Public Outdoor Recreation and Resources; Advisory Council on Brain Injuries; Area Education Agency Advisory Group; Autism Council; Board of Hearing Aid Specialists; Board of Pharmacy Alternates; Child Care Advisory Committee; Child Support Services Task Force on Liens and Motor Vehicle Registrations; Commercial Air Service Retention and Expansion Committee; Commercial Pesticide Applicator Peer Review Panel; Commission of Latino Affairs; Commission of Native American Affairs; Commission on Community Action Agencies; Commission on Educator Leadership and Compensation; Commission on Status of African Americans; Commission on Status of Asian and Pacific Islanders; Commission on Status of Persons with Disabilities; Commission on Status of Women; Community College Council and Nonpublic School Advisory Committee; Community College Faculty Advisory Committee; Community Mental Health Centers and Disability Services Standards Advisory Committee; Congenital and Inherited Disorders Advisory Committee; Conservation Education Program Board; Consumer Advisory Panel; Dependent Adult Protective Advisory Council; Early Childhood Stakeholders Alliance; Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council; Enhance Iowa Board Family Development and Self-Sufficiency Council; Farm Deer Council; Farmer Advisory Committee; Federal Clean Air Act Compliance Advisory Panel; Fire Extinguishing System Contractors and Alarms Systems Advisory Board; Grain Industry Peer Review Panel; Horizontal and Vertical Infrastructure Bid Threshold Committee; Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management Technical Advisory Committee; Interagency Coordinating Council; Interstate Cooperation Commission; Interstate Midwest Energy Commission; Iowa Collaboration for Youth Development Council; Iowa Council on Homelessness; Iowa Cultural Trust Board of Trustees; Iowa Drug Policy Advisory Council; Iowa Great Places Board; Justice Advisory Board; Leadership Council for Child Care Training and Development; Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture Advisory Board; Ongoing Quality Faculty Plan Professional Development Committee; Organic Advisory Council; Postsecondary Course Audit Committee
Prison Industries Advisory Board; Private Pesticide Applicator Peer Review Panel; Public Funds Interest Rates Committee; Public Policy Research Foundation; Secondary Road Fund Distribution Committee; State Advisory Board for Preserves; Streamlined Sales Tax Advisory Council; Street Construction Fund Distribution Advisory Committee; Telecommunication Advisory Committee; Tourist Signing Committee; Trauma System Advisory Council; Watershed Planning Advisory Council; and Well Contractors' Council.  Requires HHS along with DIAL and other stakeholders to study the effectiveness of the Certificate of Need process and make recommendations on improvements to the process or less restrictive alternatives (report due 12/31/2024).

Signed by Governor May 17, 2024.

Appropriates $46 million for fiscal year 2025 (July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025) to the Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship (IDALS) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Total general fund increase of $2.4 million (5%) and other funding increase of $646,000 ($97.1 million total).  No change in general fund spending on: local food and farm program ($75,000), Easter Seals' farmers with disabilities program ($230,000), Loess Hills Alliance ($40,000), Hungry Canyons ($360,000), and state parks ($1 million). Increases funding for the Southern Iowa Development and Conservation Fund by $50,000 ($200,000 total) and funding for forestry health management by $25,000 ($525,000 total). New $200,000 appropriation for the Choose Iowa Food Purchasing Pilot Project for schools, food banks, and emergency feeding organizations. New $150,000 appropriation to ISU Extension to provide technical support to landowners and loggers in managing private forests in NE Iowa.  No change in funding from the groundwater protection fund for water quality ($500,000).  No change in Environment First Fund (gaming funds) spending on: watershed protection ($900,000), conservation reserve ($900,000) and conservation reserve enhancement ($1 million), soil and water conservation ($8,325,000), Hungry Canyons ($140,000), state park maintenance ($6,235,000), water quality monitoring ($2,955,000), public water systems ($500,000), ambient air quality ($425,000), water quality ($2,375,000), and REAP ($12 million, with $1 million for open spaces account).  Includes new language contingent upon passage of the Choose Iowa Act (SF 2410) to appropriate status quo funding into a separate account for Value Added Agriculture Grants ($463,000), Choose Iowa Promotion ($600,000) and Dairy Innovation ($750,000).  This is an increase of $100,000 for the Choose Iowa program.  Makes three new appropriations from the Blufflands Protection Revolving Fund: $250,000 to the University of Iowa to support groundwater planning, $100,000 for the Choose Iowa Food Purchasing Pilot, and $296,228 to support making the state's parks and recreation areas more accessible. Effective July 1, 2024. You can read the final nonpartisan fiscal staff review at: legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/NOBA/1449615.pdf.

Combines snowmobile user permit and registration fees into a single $30 registration fee. Establishes a fee for non-resident user permits (valid for one snowmobile and not transferable, for one calendar year) that are optional for county recorders ($15 plus administrative fee, with county auditor keeping a writing fee).  Registration and user permits not changed for ATVs. Signed by Governor May 1, 2024. Takes effect July 1, 2024.

Division I – Income Tax Cut – Current law ratchets the income tax down to 3.9% by 2026.  This bill would instead lower that rate to 3.8% and have it take effect in 2025.  Also lowers the alternative minimum tax from 4.4 to 4.3%, also in 2025. 

Division II – Targeted Jobs Withholding Credit – Makes changes to the pilot program (in use in Sioux City and some other border communities), including raising an employer’s qualifying investment from $500K to $1M and changing the program’s sunset date from June 30, 2024 to June 30, 2027.

Division III – Franchise Tax changes dealing with financial institutions’ investments.

Division IV – Makes a number of property tax corrective changes, including changing dates by which local governments need to file reports with the Department of Management, the dates statements to taxpayers needs to be sent out, the information included in those statements, the examples provided to the taxpayers, etc.  This division allows Lee County to decide their courthouse/county seat situation. The division takes steps to protect the confidentiality of homestead credit applicants over the age of 65.  This division also extends by 3 years certain housing TIF projects that faced challenges due to COVID supply chain shortages.  

Division V – Compensation Elected County Officials – The bill makes a number of changes, including allowing county supervisors to establish or eliminate county compensation boards.  

Division VI – City & County Levy Growth Limitations – The bill adds a bracket into the calculations on how much cities and counties are allowed to raise their levies.  Under last year’s bill, there were three: 0% to 3% increase in growth is allowed to maintain their levy, 3%-6% growth is allowed to increase their levy by 2%, and growth exceeding 6% is allowed to increase their levy by 3%.  Under the bill, the new brackets would be: 0% to 2.75% allowed to maintain same levy, 2.75% to 4% allowed a 1% increase, 4% to 6% allowed a 2% increase, over 6% allowed a 3% increase. 

Division VII – Public Utility/Pipeline property tax assessment limitations – Under current law, property owned by such entities are assessed by the Department of Revenue and distributed to the local entities.  The bill removes the state part of this returning it to the local governments, and institutes a 2% per year rollback until those properties are assessed at 90% in 2029 (same as commercial). 

Division VIII – Taxpayer Relief Fund – The bill makes changes to the thresholds used when State revenues come in at certain levels, and how those funds are transferred.  

Division IX – Makes a corrective change to the MEGA sites bill, SF 574.

Signed by Governor May 1, 2024. Takes effect July 1, 2024.