Relating to operation of all-terrain vehicles or off-road utility vehicles on public hunting areas

Sponsored by the House Natural Resources Committee, Rep. Austin Harris (R)

Topics:Environment & natural resources

Same legislation: HF 107

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Official bill page Lobbyist declarations One-pager to print

Where it is now

Done: IntroducedJanuary 22, 2025
Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 22, 2025
Done: House committeeFebruary 18, 2025
Stopped: Passes the HouseDied when the General Assembly ended
Next: Senate committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
Next: Passes the Senate
Next: To the Governor
Next: Signed into law

Died when the session ended The 2026 session adjourned on May 3, 2026, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

AI summary People using all-terrain vehicles or off-road utility vehicles can now drive them in public hunting areas specifically to move a deer they have legally hunted. Everyone in the vehicle must wear bright blaze orange clothing until the deer is taken out of the hunting area. This change provides an exception to current rules that generally prohibit these vehicles on public lands and wildlife areas.¹

Read the official explanation

This bill relates to the operation of all-terrain vehicles or off-road utility vehicles on a public hunting area. The bill allows for the operation of all-terrain vehicles or off-road utility vehicles on a public hunting area for the express purpose of removing a lawfully taken deer carcass. The bill requires the all-terrain vehicle or off-road utility vehicle operator and all passengers to wear a visible blaze orange vest, coat, jacket, sweatshirt, sweater, shirt, or coveralls until the deer carcass has been removed from the public hunting area. Under current law, the natural resource commission (NRC) may prohibit operation of all-terrain vehicles or off-road utility vehicles on public lands, public ice, or designated riding trails in the interest of safety for persons, property, or the environment. Additionally, barring limited exceptions, operation of an all-terrain vehicle or off-road utility vehicle is prohibited in any park, wildlife area, preserve, refuge, game management area, or navigable stream, except on designated riding areas and trails. Under current law, a person in violation of relevant all-terrain vehicle or off-road utility vehicle prohibitions is guilty of a simple misdemeanor punishable by a scheduled fine of $135. A person convicted may also be assessed a civil penalty of $250 to be deposited in the special all-terrain vehicle fund, may be ordered to pay restitution for damage caused by the violation, and may have registration and permit privileges revoked or suspended.

Why it matters. People using all-terrain vehicles or off-road utility vehicles would be allowed to operate them on public hunting lands specifically to remove a lawfully taken deer carcass, provided that all riders wear visible blaze orange clothing. If this change causes the state to violate federal law, it could result in a reduction of approximately $18.7 million in federal funding.²

Full bill text³

Fiscal note

AI summary This bill allows people to use ATVs or UTVs on public hunting lands to transport harvested deer as long as everyone on the vehicle wears blaze orange. If the state is found to be in violation of federal law because of this change, it could result in a reduction of approximately $18.7 million in federal funding.⁴

Read the fiscal note

Description

House File 473 allows for the operation of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) or off-road utility vehicles (UTVs) on a public hunting area to remove a lawfully taken deer carcass. The Bill requires the ATV or UTV vehicle operator and all passengers to wear a visible blaze orange vest, coat, jacket, sweatshirt, sweater, shirt, or coveralls until the deer carcass has been removed from the public hunting area.

Background

Under current law, the Natural Resource Commission (NRC) may prohibit the operation of ATVs or UTVs on public lands, public ice, or designated riding trails in the interest of safety for persons, property, or the environment. The operation of ATVs or UTVs is prohibited in any park, wildlife area, preserve, refuge, game management area, or navigable stream, except on designated riding areas and trails.

A person in violation of ATV or UTV prohibitions is guilty of a simple misdemeanor punishable by a scheduled fine of $135. In addition, a person in violation of prohibitions may be assessed a civil penalty of $250 to be deposited in the All-Terrain Vehicle Registration Fee Fund. The Federal government awards grants to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) under the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration (WR) Act, the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration (SFR) Act, and 50 Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) Part 80. The WR Act provides funds to the State fish and wildlife agencies to restore, conserve, manage, and enhance wild birds and mammals and their habitats. In FFY 2025, Iowa received $13.2 million. The SFR Act provides funds to the State to carry out projects to restore, enhance, and manage sport fishery resources. In addition to sport fishery projects, this Act allows for the development and maintenance of boating access facilities and aquatic education programs. In FFY 2025, Iowa received $5.5 million. Both federal programs require that the DNR must have discretion to determine if the use of land purchased with WR or SFR Act program funds is compatible with the land’s authorized purpose.

Assumptions

House File 473 may conflict with the WR Act and the SFR Act, and 50 C.F.R. Part 80.
If it is determined that the use of ATVs and UTVs pursuant to HF 473 interferes with the DNR’s authority to manage and control land purchased with WR or SFR Act program funds, the moneys associated with those programs will not be available to the State in future fiscal years.
Future federal funding for the WR and SFR Act programs is based on the FFY 2025 total.

Fiscal Impact

According to the DNR, if the State is found to be noncompliant with federal law, HF 473 may result in a reduction of approximately $18.7 million in federal funding.

Sources

Department of Natural Resources
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Transportation of Harvested Deer from Public Lands, Vehicles · March 10, 2025

Reading a fiscal note⁵

Iowa Code it changes

Amends§321I.10

How the Code works⁶

Lobbying

0 for · 6 against · 7 undecided · Who →

Family tree

91st General Assembly

HF 107Renumbered HF 473Cleared committeefrom HF 107

Notes

The summary is written by an AI model from the official explanation. It can miss details; the explanation and the bill are what count. ↩
Written by an AI model from the official explanation and fiscal note only, for bills that passed a chamber, drew heavy lobbying or carry a large cost. It doesn’t weigh whether the bill is a good idea. ↩
The explanation is printed with the bill as introduced and written by the Legislative Services Agency, the Legislature’s nonpartisan staff. Amendments adopted later aren’t reflected in it. ↩
Written by an AI model from the newest fiscal note. It can miss details; the note itself is what counts. ↩
Fiscal notes are nonpartisan cost estimates from the Legislative Services Agency’s Fiscal Services Division. The newest is listed first. ↩
Code sections are read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. ↩