Bill
Bill > HF634
IA HF634
A bill for an act relating to forest and fruit-tree reservations, and providing for a fee.
summary
Introduced
02/28/2025
02/28/2025
In Committee
02/28/2025
02/28/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
91st General Assembly
Bill Summary
Currently, a person who establishes a forest or fruit-tree reservation (reservation) is entitled to a property tax exemption on the tract of land selected to be a reservation, subject to certain conditions. Beginning January 1, 2026, this bill establishes a fee structure for reservations dependent upon where the reservation is located. For a reservation located in a county where the owner of the reservation maintains a homestead, the fee is $2 per acre per year. For a reservation located in a county contiguous to the county where the owner of the reservation maintains a homestead, the fee is $3 per acre per year. For all other reservations, including a reservation located inside the corporate limits of a city, the fee shall be a rate per acre equal to a formula calculated by the department of management. Fees collected under the bill are to be paid no later than September 1 of each year to the county treasurer of the county where the forest or fruit-tree reservation is located to be deposited into the county general fund.
AI Summary
This bill establishes a new fee structure for forest and fruit-tree reservations beginning January 1, 2026, replacing the current property tax exemption system. Under the new provisions, landowners will pay fees based on the location of their reservation: $2 per acre per year if the reservation is in the same county as the owner's homestead, $3 per acre per year if the reservation is in a county adjacent to the owner's homestead county, and for all other reservations (including those within city limits), a more complex fee calculated by the department of management. This fee calculation involves multiplying the average property taxes per acre of agricultural land in the county with the most exempt acres by a factor derived from dividing 13 by the average corn suitability rating of agricultural property in that county. The fees must be paid to the county treasurer by September 1 each year and will be deposited into the county's general fund. The bill aims to introduce a more nuanced approach to taxation of forest and fruit-tree reservations while still providing a form of financial consideration to local counties.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced, referred to Ways and Means. H.J. 471. (on 02/28/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=HF634 |
| BillText | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGI/91/attachments/HF634.html |
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