Designating certain county flood mitigation activities as an essential county purpose

Topics:Environment & natural resources Cities & counties

Same legislation: SF 3

Official bill page Lobbyist declarations One-pager to print

Where it is now

Done: IntroducedJanuary 13, 2025
Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 23, 2025
Stopped: House committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
Next: Passes the House
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 Iowa counties would be allowed to borrow money to restore wetlands, oxbow lakes, and floodplains without needing a public vote first. This change treats these environmental projects the same as other essential tasks, like protecting property from floodwaters. Currently, most large county debts require voters to approve them at an election.¹

Read the official explanation

This bill amends the portion of the definition of “essential county purpose” relating to the protection of property from floodwaters to include the reconnection of floodplains and wetland and oxbow lake restoration. Under Code chapter 331, a county board of supervisors may generally contract indebtedness and approve the issuance of general obligation bonds to carry out an essential county purpose without approval by voters at an election, while the issuance of general obligation bonds to carry out a general county purpose generally requires approval by voters at an election.

Full bill text²

House subcommittee

Named February 3, 2025. On February 11, 2025 it recommended amendment and passage.

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

Iowa Code it changes

Amends§331.441

How the Code works³

Lobbying

12 for · 1 against · 12 undecided · Who →

Family tree

Tried before

SF 442Renumbered89th GA HF 523Became law89th GA HF 2166Passed a chamber89th GA HF 448Cleared committee90th GA

Study bill

HSB 83Cleared committee

91st General Assembly

SF 3Cleared committee

Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title.

Tried before

This idea has been filed in 2 earlier General Assemblies. A version became law.

HF 448 Designating certain county flood mitigation activities as an essential county purpose
90th General Assembly · Subcommittee recommends passage · same title
Cleared committee
HF 2166 Designating certain county flood mitigation activities as an essential county purpose
89th General Assembly · Passed House · same title
Passed a chamber
HF 523 Designating certain county flood mitigation activities as an essential county purpose
89th General Assembly · Signed by Governor · same title
Became law
SF 442 Designating certain county flood mitigation activities as an essential county purpose
89th General Assembly · Renumbered as SF 607 · same title
Cleared committee
SF 607 Designating certain county flood mitigation activities as an essential county purpose
89th General Assembly · Withdrawn · same title
Didn’t advance
HSB 681 HSB 681
89th General Assembly · Subcommittee recommends passage · similar
Cleared committee

Similar bills this General Assembly

HF 362 Designating emergency medical services as an essential county purpose
91st General Assembly · In committee
Similar

Matched by wording or an identical title.