Bills › 90th General Assembly
Relating to regulation of watercraft and equipment on public lakes by common interest communities and certain nonprofit corporations, and including effective date provisions
Sponsored by the House Commerce (companion To Sf 2292 By Committee on Commerce) Committee
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 31, 2024
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 31, 2024
- Done: House committeeFebruary 8, 2024
- Done: Passes the HouseFebruary 21, 202474–22
- Skipped: Senate committeeSkipped
- Done: Passes the SenateFebruary 27, 202444–5
- Done: To the GovernorFebruary 28, 2024
- Done: Signed into lawFebruary 28, 2024
Signed into law What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary Large housing communities with at least 1,000 homes located next to public lakes can create their own rules for how members and guests use boats and water equipment. These associations may also use private buoys or other safety markers to let people know what the rules are. This authority remains in place until the state's natural resource commission creates its own rules for those lakes.1
Read the official explanation
This bill relates to the regulation of watercraft and equipment on public lakes. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the bill allows a common interest community with 1,000 units or more that is adjacent to or abutting a public lake to establish policies for the common interest community’s owners, and the owners’ guests, regarding the operation of watercraft, including but not limited to equipment specifications, upon the public lake. The bill allows the common interest community to utilize private buoys and other safety-related installations to communicate the relevant policies until the natural resource commission adopts rules regulating buoys and other safety-related installations for the public lake that is adjacent to or abuts the common interest community. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the bill provides that an association may establish policies for the association’s members, and the members’ guests, regarding the operation of watercraft, including but not limited to equipment specifications, upon the public lake. The bill also allows an association to utilize private buoys and other safety-related installations to communicate the relevant policies until the natural resource commission adopts rules regulating buoys and other safety-related installations for the public lake that is adjacent to or abuts the association. The bill defines “association” as a nonprofit corporation incorporated under Code chapter 504, named as an association, and that manages a community with 1,000 units or more that is located on a subdivision that is adjacent to or abuts a public lake. The bill also defines “public lake” to mean any lake located within the boundaries of this state that is a navigable body of water and that is lawfully accessible by the general public. The terms “common interest community”, “member”, “rule”, “bylaws”, “rules and regulations”, “unit”, and “unit owner” are also defined in the bill.
Changed since by amendments S-5024, H-8009; see Amendments.
House subcommittee
Named January 31, 2024 (as HSB 647). On February 5, 2024 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
2 written public comments to its subcommittee: February 7, 2024 (1), February 5, 2024 (1) · on the Legislature’s site
Iowa Code it changes
Lobbying
1 for · 3 against · 10 undecided · Who →
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90th General Assembly