Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to the allocation of special nonresident deer hunting licenses
Sponsored by the Senate Natural Resources and Environment Committee, Sen. Tom Shipley (R)
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 12, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 17, 2025
- Done: Senate committeeFebruary 25, 2025
- Done: Passes the SenateMarch 17, 202643–0
- Stopped: House committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
- 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 Instead of giving 50 special deer hunting licenses to state officials and development groups, this law would give 40 of them to Iowa conservation organizations and 10 to the governor. These licenses are used to show off Iowa's nature to visitors from other states. If the governor does not use their share by September 1, those extra licenses go to the conservation groups instead.1
Read the official explanation
This bill relates to the allocation of special nonresident deer hunting licenses. Under current law, the director of the department of natural resources allocates 50 nonresident deer hunting licenses for the purpose of allowing state officials and local development groups to promote the state and its natural resources to nonresident guests and dignitaries. The bill changes the allocation and purpose of the 50 nonresident hunting licenses by allocating 40 of the licenses to Iowa conservation organizations and 10 of the licenses to the governor for the purpose of allowing state officials and Iowa conservation groups to promote the state and its natural resources to nonresident guests and dignitaries. The bill allows the governor to accept all, part, or none of the allocation. Any nonresident deer hunting license not accepted by the governor by September 1 is added to the allocation for Iowa conservation organizations. The bill defines “conservation organization” as an organization that is incorporated and managed pursuant to Code chapter 504 and whose mission emphasizes natural resource conservation or supports science-based natural resource management. Under the bill, a local or state chapter or division of a national or international conservation organization qualifies as a conservation organization.
Why it matters. The governor and Iowa conservation organizations would receive special nonresident deer hunting licenses to help promote the state's natural resources to guests and dignitaries. Any licenses the governor does not accept by September would be given to these conservation organizations instead.2
House subcommittee
Named March 23, 2026. On March 31, 2026 it recommended 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
2 written public comments to its subcommittee: February 16, 2026 (1), January 20, 2026 (1) · on the Legislature’s site
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91st General Assembly