ElkHunter
Life Member
Iowa Bowhunters Association
2024 Legislative Update
Week 2
2024 Legislative Update
Week 2
Each piece of legislation is hot linked so that you can read actual legislation.
Just do a Ctrl + Click on the legislation number.
HF - House File HSB - House Study Bill SF - Senate File SSB - Senate Study Bill
(O) – Oppose
(S) – Support
(M)- Monitoring (awaiting some clarification)
(NR)- Not registered; meaning our lobbyist has not declared our position yet.
If you have questions or concerns, Senate and House Natural Resource Committee members are listed at the bottom of this letter.
SF 2056 - Family Member Hunting (O) - The bill changes the definition of “family member” for purposes of free wild turkey and deer hunting licenses issued to landowners and tenants to include the spouse and both minor and adult children of the owner or tenant regardless of the family member’s residency status. The bill also excludes deer hunting licenses obtained by family members from the nonresident license limits even if the family member is not a resident of Iowa. Referred to Natural Resources and Environment
SF 2046 - Deer Depredation Licenses (M) - Current law requires the DNR to allow deer depredation licenses to be used in the months of September, October, November, and December. The bill requires that the DNR also allow the use of deer depredation licenses in any county during the same time period as the January antlerless deer only hunting season, even if the county in which the license is used does not qualify for the January antlerless deer only hunting season. Referred to Natural Resources and Environment
SF 2043 - Special Landowner Deer Tags (M) - The bill allows the two special deer hunting licenses issued to resident landowners or tenants, or their family members, to be used without first designating the season of use for the license. The bill allows the licenses to be used in any open season using a method of take authorized for that season. Current law specifies that the licenses may only be used during any bow or firearm deer hunting season and for harvesting deer during two different seasons. Referred to Natural Resources and Environment. Subcommittee Meeting: 01/22/2024 11:30AM Room 217
SF 2042 - UTVs in State Parks (M) - This bill authorizes registered UTVs to be operated on state park road systems, and anywhere within the boundaries of a state park that a motor vehicle is authorized to operate. “State park road system” means those roads and streets wholly within the boundaries of state lands operated as parks Approved by subcommittee
SF 2040 - Animal Welfare License Plates (NR) - This bill authorizes the DOT to design and issue special registration plates with an animal welfare distinguishing processed emblem. The bill requires the DOT to design the animal welfare emblem, which must depict a black cat nested within a white dog, nested within a black paw print. The bill requires the Iowa Department of Agriculture to use the monies collected from the issuance of animal welfare license plates to increase the frequency of inspections of “animal shelters, boarding kennels, commercial breeders, commercial kennels, dealers, pet shops, pounds, public auctions, or research facilities. Referred to Transportation
SF 2023 - Deer Hunting Trespass Penalty Increase (M) - The bill increases fines for a person knowingly trespassing upon the property of another, or who commits a trespass while hunting deer. The bill provides that the scheduled fine is $500 for a first violation, $1,000 for a second violation, and $1,500 for a third or subsequent violation. Referred to Judiciary 2
SF 2013 - Deer Baiting (S) - This bill prohibits hunting, taking, or attempting to take deer on or in a baited area. The bill also provides that if a person places feed in a baited area, all feed must be removed from that area at least 10 days before the opening day of the first fall deer hunting season. An area remains a baited area for 10 days following complete removal of all feed from the area, except for salt, minerals, or any other feed that will dissolve and leach into the soil, in which case the area is considered a permanently baited area until such time as all contaminated soil is removed or until there is no longer evidence that deer are artificially attracted to or are accessing the site. A person shall not hunt, take, or attempt to take deer within 200 yards of a permanently baited area until such time as all contaminated soil is removed from the area or until there is no evidence that deer are artificially attracted to or are accessing the area. Subcommittee: Vondran, Fisher and Kurth
SF 553 (formerly SF 363 and SF 277) - Nonresident Family Members Deer Tags (O) - This bill creates a special deer hunting license available to certain nonresident family members. The bill allows a nonresident who is a family member of a resident to purchase a nonresident family member deer hunting license for a fee that is one-half the fee of a nonresident deer hunting license established by the Natural Resource Commission by rule. A nonresident may only use a nonresident family member hunting license while hunting with a resident who is a family member of the nonresident Approved by Natural Resources. Referred to Ways and Means. Subcommittee: Driscoll, Dickey, and Dotzler
SF 548 (formerly SSB 1129) - Forest Reserve Program Changes (O) - The bill provides that for the assessment year beginning January 1, 2024, the amount of the exemption for each qualifying reservation shall be that portion of the actual value of the reservation that exceeds an amount equal to the product of the number of acres of the reservation multiplied by 25 percent of the county valuation per acre of agricultural property determined pursuant to Code section 441.21(1)(e) for the same assessment year. For the assessment year beginning January 1, 2025, and each succeeding assessment year, the amount of the exemption for each qualifying reservation shall be that portion of the actual value of the reservation that exceeds an amount equal to the product of the number of acres of the reservation multiplied by 50 percent of the county valuation per acre of agricultural property determined pursuant to Code section 441.21(1)(e) for the same assessment year. Subcommittee: Klemish, Dawson and Dotzler
SF 331 - Paddleboard Registration and Boat Registration Fees (M) - The bill increases the registration fee for vessels of any length without a motor to $20. However, the bill exempts a canoe or kayak type vessel of any length from registration requirements. The bill requires an owner of a paddle craft using the paddle craft on waters of this state under NRC jurisdiction to purchase and display on the paddle craft a water use permit decal. The Department of Natural Resources shall make the water use permit decal available to purchase at water recreation facilities operated by DNR and at retail locations for $7 plus any administrative and authorized writing fees. Subcommittee: Rozenboom, Celsi, and Zumbach
SF 255 - Nonresident Deer Tags for Outfitters (O) - The bill requires the Natural Resources Committee to reserve 500 of the nonresident antlered or any sex deer hunting licenses for nonresidents who have made a reservation with an outfitter, as defined in the bill, that is currently registered as a business entity with the secretary of state and has maintained registration since prior to July 1, 2022. Approved by committee 2-1 SJR 12 (formerly SJR 8) - Constitutional Right To Hunt, Trap and Fish (F) - This joint resolution proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa providing that the people of this state have the right to hunt, fish, trap, and harvest wildlife, including by the use of traditional methods, subject to reasonable laws enacted by the general assembly and reasonable rules adopted by the natural resource commission. 3 Approved by subcommittee
HF 2015 - Special Landowner Deer Tags (M) - The bill allows the two special deer hunting licenses issued to resident landowners or tenants, or their family members, to be used without first designating the season of use for the license. The bill allows the licenses to be used in any open season using a method of take authorized for that season. Current law specifies that the licenses may only be used during any bow or firearm deer hunting season and for harvesting deer during two different seasons. Referred to State Government
HF 2014 - Deer Depredation Licenses (M) - Current law requires the DNR to allow deer depredation licenses to be used in the months of September, October, November, and December. The bill requires that the DNR also allow the use of deer depredation licenses in any county during the same time period as the January antlerless deer only hunting season, even if the county in which the license is used does not qualify for the January antlerless deer only hunting season. Referred to State Government
HF 2011 - Deer Hunting Trespass Penalty Increase (M) - The bill increases fines for a person knowingly trespassing upon the property of another, or who commits a trespass while hunting deer. The bill provides that the scheduled fine is $500 for a first violation, $1,000 for a second violation, and $1,500 for a third or subsequent violation. Subcommittee: Vondran, Fisher and Kurth
HF 2009 - State Park Accessibility (NR) - This bill requires the natural resource commission to conduct an annual survey of state parks identifying trails and features that are accessible for persons with disabilities. The results of the annual survey shall be made available on the department’s internet site for the public to use as a resource. Referred to Natural Resources
HF 582 - Disabled Vet Crossbows (M) - The bill adds a person who served in the armed forces of the United States and has an injury arising from that person’s military service to the definition of “permanent disability”. The bill requires the Natural Resource Commission to adopt rules allowing a person who has a permanent disability based on an injury arising from that person’s military service to use a crossbow while hunting with a tag designated for use in any archery season. Subcommittee: Carlson, Jeneary and Turek. Subcommittee Meeting: 01/22/2024 12:30PM House Lounge.
HF 175 - Adding Black Bear to Furbearers (NR) - The bill designates black bears as a fur-bearing animal. The bill prohibits a person from willfully disturbing, pursuing, shooting, killing, taking or attempting to take, or having in possession a black bear outside of an open season established by the Natural Resource Commission. The Commission may allow for the hunting of black bears subject to limitations the commission imposes. Approved by the House 90-5. Subcommittee: Rozenboom, Trone Garriott, and Zumbach
Natural Resources and Environment (S)
Senate Members
Annette Sweeney (R, District 27), Chair
Tom Shipley (R, District 9), Vice Chair
Izaah Knox (D, District 17), Ranking Member
Liz Bennett (D, District 39)
Claire Celsi (D, District 16)
Chris Cournoyer (R, District 35)
Rocky De Witt (R, District 1)
Dawn Driscoll (R, District 46)
Lynn Evans (R, District 3)
Jesse Green (R, District 24)
Ken Rozenboom (R, District 19)
Sarah Trone Garriott (D, District 14)
Dan Zumbach (R, District 34)
Natural Resources (H)
House Members
Thomas Jeneary (R, District 3), Chair
Ken Carlson (R, District 13), Vice Chair
Adam Zabner (D, District 90), Ranking Member
Ako Abdul-Samad (D, District 34)
Timi M. Brown-Powers (D, District 61)
Dean C. Fisher (R, District 53)
Dan Gehlbach (R, District 46)
Thomas D. Gerhold (R, District 84)
Helena Hayes (R, District 88)
Heather Hora (R, District 92)
David Jacoby (D, District 86)
Kenan Judge (D, District 27)
Shannon Latham (R, District 55)
Elinor A. Levin (D, District 89)
Norlin Mommsen (R, District 70)
J.D. Scholten (D, District 1)
Brad Sherman (R, District 91)
Art Staed (D, District 80)
Sharon Sue Steckman (D, District 59)
Luana Stoltenberg (R, District 81)
Mark I. Thompson (R, District 56)
