IA HF971

Bill

A bill for an act establishing a scenic byways enhancement fund, including by providing for voluntary contributions to the fund, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.(Formerly HF 581, HF 130; See HF 2353.)

Introduced
03/21/2025

In Committee
05/15/2025

Crossed Over

Passed

Dead

Introduced Session

91st General Assembly

Bill Summary

This bill creates a scenic byways enhancement fund and appropriates moneys in the fund to the department of transportation (DOT) for the support, development, maintenance, and enhancement, including litter prevention, of scenic byways. For each application to renew the registration of a vehicle, the county treasurer or the DOT is required to request that an applicant make a voluntary contribution of $1 or more, computed to the nearest whole dollar, to the scenic byways enhancement fund. Up to 5 percent of the moneys collected by the county may be retained by the county treasurer for deposit in the general fund of the county. The bill takes effect January 1, 2026.

AI Summary

This bill establishes a new scenic byways enhancement fund to support the maintenance, development, and improvement of scenic byways in Iowa, with a focus on litter prevention. The fund will be created in the state treasury and will primarily be supported through voluntary $1 or more contributions from vehicle registration renewal applicants. When renewing vehicle registrations, county treasurers and the Department of Transportation (DOT) will request these voluntary contributions, both verbally (for in-person applications) and through written forms. Up to 5% of the collected contributions can be retained by county treasurers for their general fund, while the remaining money will be remitted to the state treasurer for deposit into the scenic byways enhancement fund. The fund's money will not be subject to standard state budget rules, meaning unspent funds will not revert back to the general fund at the end of the fiscal year and will instead remain available for scenic byways projects. Interest earned on the fund will also be credited back to the fund. The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, giving state and county offices time to prepare for implementing the new voluntary contribution system.

Committee Categories

Budget and Finance, Transportation and Infrastructure

Sponsors (0)

No sponsors listed

Other Sponsors (1)

Appropriations (House)

Last Action

Committee report approving bill, renumbered as HF 2353. (on 02/09/2026)

Official Document

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=HF971

(3 Companion Bills)

Version:

Document Type	Source Location
State Bill Page	https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=HF971
Fiscal Note/Analysis - NOBA: House Full Approps	https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/NOBA/1525089.pdf
BillText	https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGI/91/attachments/HF971.html

Bill	Bill Name	Last Action	Type
HF130	A bill for an act establishing a scenic byways enhancement fund, including by providing for voluntary contributions to the fund, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.(See HF 581, HF 971, HF 2353.)	Committee report approving bill, renumbered as HF 581.	Similar To
HF2353	A bill for an act establishing a scenic byways enhancement fund, including by providing for voluntary contributions to the fund, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.(Formerly HF 971, HF 581, HF 130.)	Subcommittee recommends passage.	Similar To
HF581	A bill for an act establishing a scenic byways enhancement fund, including by providing for voluntary contributions to the fund, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.(Formerly HF 130; See HF 971, HF 2353.)	Committee report approving bill, renumbered as HF 971.	Similar To

Bill > HF971

summary

Introduced Session

Bill Summary

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Sponsors (0)

Other Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Official Document

bill text

bill summary

bill summary

bill summary