Relating to special deer hunting licenses available to nonresident family members

Where it is now

Done: IntroducedFebruary 3, 2025
Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 4, 2025
Stopped: Senate committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
Next: Passes the Senate
Next: House committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
Next: Passes the House
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 who live outside of Iowa can now buy a special, cheaper deer hunting license if they are related to an Iowa resident. To use this license, the family member must hunt on the resident's land alongside that relative. These hunters get the same hunting privileges as Iowa residents and do not have to follow the same limits or quotas that other nonresidents face.¹

Read the official explanation

This bill creates a special deer hunting license available to certain nonresident family members. In order to hunt deer under current law, a nonresident who does not own land in Iowa may apply for an antlered or any sex deer hunting license that is subject to a specified zone and an annual quota. A nonresident who is unsuccessful in acquiring an antlered or any sex deer hunting license receives preference to purchase an antlerless deer only deer hunting license. The bill allows a nonresident who is a family member of a resident to purchase a nonresident family member deer hunting license for a fee that is one-half the fee of a nonresident deer hunting license established by the natural resource commission by rule. 24(2)(c). A person using a nonresident family member deer hunting license is entitled to the same privileges as a person using a resident deer hunting license, including party hunting, and the nonresident family member deer hunting license is not subject to requirements or quotas imposed on nonresidents. However, the nonresident family member is required to purchase an annual nonresident hunting license.24(2)(c).

Full bill text²

Senate subcommittee

Named February 4, 2025. It hasn’t reported yet.

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§483A.8

How the Code works³

Lobbying

1 for · 1 against · 1 undecided · Who →

Family tree

Tried before

SF 2054Cleared committee88th GA SF 553Cleared committee90th GA SF 363Renumbered90th GA SF 277Renumbered90th GA

91st General Assembly

SF 179Cleared 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. None got through a chamber.

SF 363 Relating to special deer hunting licenses available to nonresident family members
90th General Assembly · Renumbered as SF 553 · same title
Cleared committee
SF 553 Relating to special deer hunting licenses available to nonresident family members
90th General Assembly · Approved by committee · same title
Cleared committee
SF 277 Relating to special deer hunting licenses available to nonresident family members
90th General Assembly · Renumbered as SF 363 · very similar
Cleared committee
SF 2054 Relating to special deer hunting licenses available to nonresident family members
88th General Assembly · In committee · similar
Cleared committee

Matched by wording or an identical title.