Bills › 90th General Assembly
Establishing a scenic byways enhancement fund, including by providing for voluntary contributions to the fund, and including effective date provisions
Sponsored by the House Transportation (companion To Sf 151 By Committee on Transportation) Committee
Topics:State budget
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 25, 2023
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 25, 2023
- Done: House committeeFebruary 1, 2023
- Skipped: Passes the HouseContinued as HF 345
- Next: Senate committee
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Became HF 345 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to HF 345 What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary Iowa will create a new fund to help pay for the upkeep and improvement of scenic roads and litter prevention. When people renew their vehicle registrations, they will have the option to donate one dollar or more to this fund. Local counties can also keep a small portion of these donations to help fund their own general budgets.1
Read the official explanation
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 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, 2024.
House subcommittee
Named February 6, 2023. On February 13, 2023 it recommended passage. Vote Total: 3-0.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
Fiscal note
AI summary This bill creates a Scenic Byways Enhancement Fund fueled by voluntary contributions made during vehicle registration renewals. If contributions mirror previous similar funds, the Scenic Byways Enhancement Fund is estimated to increase revenue by $59,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $118,000 each fiscal year thereafter, while county general funds would receive an increase of $3,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $6,000 in each fiscal year thereafter. It is currently difficult to determine the exact total of contributions or if they will displace money previously given to other funds.3
Read the fiscal note
Description
House File 345 establishes a Scenic Byways Enhancement Fund in the State Treasury under the control of the Department of Transportation (DOT). For each application for vehicle registration renewal, county treasurers or the DOT must request through use of a written form or through verbal communication that an applicant make a voluntary contribution to the Fund. Contributions must be $1 or more and computed to the nearest whole dollar. All moneys collected in the form of contributions must be remitted for deposit in the Fund. Moneys in the Fund are appropriated to the DOT for the support, development, maintenance, and enhancement, including litter prevention, of scenic byways in the State. Up to 5.0% of the moneys collected by a county may be retained in the general fund of that county. This Bill takes effect January 1, 2024.
Background
Vehicles registered under Iowa Code chapter 321 are subject to registration renewal annually. Vehicle registration must be renewed in the applicant’s county of residence or online. The statewide Scenic Highways Program was established under Iowa Code chapter 306D. Iowa Administrative Code 761 IAC 132 makes a distinction between a heritage byway and a scenic byway and retitles the program to the Iowa Byways Program. A heritage byway is defined as a route that has historic or cultural significance along its length or connects various areas or sites of historic or cultural significance along its length. A scenic byway means a route that has naturally scenic features visible along its length. Both byways are included under the Iowa Byways Program. Iowa currently has 14 byways, which include 3 national scenic byways, 1 State heritage byway, and 10 State scenic byways.
Under Iowa Code section 321.44A, applicants for vehicle registration or renewal can currently make a voluntary contribution of $1 or more to the Anatomical Gift Public Awareness and Transplantation Fund established in Iowa Code section 142C.15. The counties maintain up to 5.0% of the moneys collected by the county. In calendar years 2021 and 2022, moneys collected in this Fund totaled $126,000 and $121,000, respectively.
Assumptions
- It is unknown how many voluntary contributions will be made to the Scenic Byways Enhancement Fund, whether contributions will vary year by year, or whether any contributions made will offset contributions previously made to the Anatomical Gift Public Awareness and Transplantation Fund.
- Counties will retain 5.0% of the total contributions made to the Scenic Byways Enhancement Fund. At this time, it is unknown which counties will receive this funding.
- Calendar year 2021 and 2022 contributions to the Anatomical Gift Public Awareness and Transplantation Fund are used to estimate contributions to the Scenic Byways Enhancement Fund.
- The DOT will absorb any additional information technology and administrative costs associated with this change in its existing resources and budget.
Fiscal Impact
At this time, it is difficult to determine the overall contributions to the Scenic Byways Enhancement Fund and whether any contributions would displace contributions previously made to the Anatomical Gift Public Awareness and Transplantation Fund. If contributions made to the Scenic Byways Enhancement Fund mirror those made to the Anatomical Gift Public Awareness and Transplantation Fund, HF 345 is estimated to increase revenue to the Scenic Byways Enhancement Fund by $59,000 in FY 2024 and $118,000 each fiscal year thereafter. County general funds in the aggregate would receive an increase of $3,000 in FY 2024 and $6,000 in each fiscal year thereafter. Revenue collected in the Scenic Byways Enhancement Fund is appropriated to the DOT. Moneys remaining in the Fund at the end of the fiscal year are permitted to carry forward, and any interest earned remains in the Fund.
Sources
- Department of Transportation
- Legislative Services Agency calculations
- Scenic Byways · February 21, 2023
- Scenic Byways · February 15, 2023
- Scenic Byways · February 2, 2023
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90th General Assembly
Picked up later
Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title.
Tried before
This idea has been filed in 2 earlier General Assemblies. None became law, though one got through a chamber.
- HF 486 Establishing a scenic byways enhancement fund, including by providing for voluntary contri…89th General Assembly · Passed House · same titlePassed a chamber
- HF 29 Establishing a scenic byways enhancement fund, including by providing for voluntary contri…89th General Assembly · Renumbered as HF 486 · same titleCleared committee
- SF 2060 Establishing a scenic byways enhancement fund, including by providing for voluntary contri…88th General Assembly · Subcommittee recommends passage · nearly identicalCleared committee
Similar bills this General Assembly
- HF 130 Establishing a scenic byways enhancement fund, including by providing for voluntary contri…91st General Assembly · Renumbered as HF 581Nearly identical
Matched by wording or an identical title.