Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to the rights and obligations of certain state and local government entities in erecting, rebuilding, or repairing partition fences, including the allocation of moneys from accounts in the Iowa resources enhancement and protection fund
Sponsored by the Senate Agriculture Committee, Sen. Dawn Driscoll (R)
Topics:State budgetEnvironment & natural resourcesCities & counties
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 25, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 26, 2025
- Done: Senate committeeMarch 10, 2025
- Done: Passes the SenateApril 29, 202548–0
- Next: House committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Became SF 616 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to SF 616 What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
BACKGROUND —— IOWA RESOURCES ENHANCEMENT AND PROTECTION FUND. The Iowa resources enhancement and protection fund (REAP) consists of various accounts to carry out a policy to protect the state’s natural resource heritage of air, soils, waters, and wildlife (Code chapter 455A, subchapter II). Twenty-eight percent of moneys in REAP are allocated to the open spaces account, which supports programs of the department of natural resources (DNR) including the acquisition of land. Thirty percent of moneys in REAP are allocated to the county conservation account to support county conservation projects.
Read the full explanation
BACKGROUND —— IOWA’S FENCE LAW. Iowa’s fence law (Code chapter 359A) in part governs the construction or maintenance of fences existing on the property boundary lines between adjoining land of different owners, referred to as a partition fence.1A).22).11). The fence viewers must issue an order to the parties assigning each party their portion of the amount required to erect or maintain (rebuild, trim, cut back, or repair) the fence, which may be in the form of a monetary contribution. If the fence is not erected, rebuilt, or repaired within the time prescribed in the order, the complaining landowner must deposit an amount sufficient to pay for the work subject to reimbursement by the other landowner. BILL’S PROVISIONS. The bill provides that DNR or a county conservation board (board), with respect to the entity’s control or management of a tract of land, has the same rights and obligations as any private landowner when erecting and maintaining a partition fence. The bill provides that after fence viewers issue an order, the two parties must deposit an amount with the fence viewers sufficient to pay for that party’s portion of the costs plus the fence viewers’ expenses. DNR may make its contribution from moneys in REAP’s open spaces account and a board may make its contribution from moneys in REAP’s county conservation account.
From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Amendments adopted later aren’t reflected. Full bill text
Senate subcommittee
Named March 12, 2025. On March 18, 2025 it recommended passage.
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Iowa Code it changes
Creates§350.4A§359A.1B§456A.39
Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works
Lobbying
2 for · 6 against · 17 undecided · Who →
Family tree
Where this legislation came from and where it went: earlier tries, the versions it moved through this Assembly, and later bills built on it.
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91st General Assembly
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