HF 971: Establishing a scenic byways enhancement fund, including by providing for voluntary contributions to the fund, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions

What it does

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, 2026.

House subcommittee · named January 20, 2026

• Rep. Devon Wood (R) · devon.wood@legis.iowa.gov
• Rep. J.D. Scholten (D) · j.d.scholten@legis.iowa.gov
• Rep. Craig Steven Williams (R) · craig.williams@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 3 for, 0 against

For: Iowa Association of County Conservation Boards; Iowa Recycling Association; Iowa Society of Solid Waste Operations (ISOSWO)

In plain words

1. March 21, 2025Filed in the House
2. January 20, 2026House subcommittee named: Wood, Scholten and Williams
3. February 3, 2026Subcommittee recommended passing it
4. February 4, 2026Approved by the House committee
5. February 4, 2026Committee vote: 21–0
6. February 9, 2026Approved by the House committee, and given a new number: HF 2353
7. April 2, 2026Withdrawn