Bill
Bill > SF549
IA SF549
IA SF549A bill for an act creating boat permits for boat liveries, and including retroactive applicability provisions.(Formerly SSB 1197.)
summary
Introduced
03/06/2025
03/06/2025
In Committee
06/16/2025
06/16/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
91st General Assembly
Bill Summary
This bill creates boat permits for boat liveries providing watercraft for use on lakes operated by the United States army corps of engineers that are located on the Des Moines river. The bill prohibits an owner of a boat livery from renting, leasing, or otherwise allowing the use of any watercraft without a sufficient number of boat permits. The bill provides that to obtain boat permits, the owner must submit an application to the department of natural resources (DNR) that will include the number of permits the owner requests to be issued and other information deemed relevant by DNR. The bill explains that each permit issued authorizes the owner to allow the use of one watercraft at any given time. The bill creates a committee that determines the number of permits to be allocated and then allocates those permits to applicants. The committee may also recommend rules for the safety of rental boat users and other boaters on the lakes. The permits issued are valid for two years, though they may be revoked at the discretion of the committee. The bill requires the committee to meet annually to review the number of permits in use, new permit requests, and existing rules; however, the committee may choose to call additional meetings at the committee’s discretion. The bill requires the natural resource commission to adopt and DNR to enforce rules pursuant to the bill and decisions made by the committee. The bill expounds that watercraft registered in a different state, but used in waters regulated under the bill, are subject to the requirements of this section. The bill applies retroactively to the rental, lease, or other allowance of use by the owner of a boat livery of any watercraft on the specified lakes on and after January 1, 2025.
AI Summary
This bill creates a permit system for boat liveries operating on lakes managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers along the Des Moines River in Iowa. Under the new regulations, boat livery owners (including boat clubs) must obtain specific permits to rent or lease watercraft on these lakes, with each permit allowing the use of one watercraft at a time. A three-member committee composed of a state senator, state representative, and a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) appointee will be responsible for determining the number of permits to be issued, with unanimous consent required for allocation decisions. The committee can also recommend safety rules for rental boat users and has the discretion to revoke permits. Permits will be valid for two years, and the committee must meet annually before April 1 to review permit usage, new requests, and existing rules. The DNR will be responsible for enforcing these regulations, and the rules will apply to watercraft from other states used on these lakes. Notably, the bill has a retroactive applicability, meaning these regulations will apply to boat rentals and leases from January 1, 2025, onward, giving boat livery owners time to adapt to the new permit system.
Committee Categories
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Sponsors (0)
No sponsors listed
Other Sponsors (1)
Natural Resources And Environment (Senate)
Last Action
Subcommittee: Evans, Costello, and Staed. S.J. 107. (on 01/15/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=SF549 |
| BillText | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGI/91/attachments/SF549.html |
Loading...