House File 2622 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE
BY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL
RESOURCES
(SUCCESSOR TO HF 2111)
Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to mowing within the right=of=way of primary and
2 interstate highways.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
4 TLSB 5733HV 82
5 dea/nh/8
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. Section 314.17, Code 2007, is amended to read
1 2 as follows:
1 3 314.17 MOWING ON INTERSTATES AND PRIMARY HIGHWAYS.
1 4 On or after January 1, 2003, the department shall not mow
1 5 Mowing roadside vegetation on the rights=of=way or medians on
1 6 any primary or interstate highway. Mowing shall be permitted
1 7 prior to July 15 is prohibited, except as follows:
1 8 1. On rights=of=way which include drainage ditch areas
1 9 Within two hundred yards of an inhabited dwelling.
1 10 2. On rights=of=way within three miles one mile of the
1 11 corporate limits of a city.
1 12 3. To promote native species of vegetation or other
1 13 long=lived and adaptable vegetation.
1 14 4. For establishing control of damaging insect
1 15 populations, noxious weeds, and invader invasive plant
1 16 species.
1 17 5. For visibility and safety reasons.
1 18 6. Within rest areas, weigh stations, and wayside parks.
1 19 EXPLANATION
1 20 Under current law, the department of transportation is
1 21 permitted to mow within the right=of=way of a primary highway
1 22 or interstate in drainage ditch areas, within three miles of
1 23 city limits, to promote certain vegetation for purposes of
1 24 insect and weed control, and for visibility and safety
1 25 reasons. Current law allows a property owner to harvest
1 26 grass, in proper season, within the right=of=way of a primary
1 27 highway along the landowner's land unless the vegetation is
1 28 part of an integrated roadside vegetation management plan.
1 29 This bill imposes a restriction on mowing on rights=of=way
1 30 or medians before July 15 for both the department and property
1 31 owners. Exceptions are allowed for mowing areas within 200
1 32 yards of an inhabited dwelling; on rights=of=way within one
1 33 mile of the corporate limits of a city; to promote native
1 34 species of vegetation; to establish control of damaging
1 35 insects, noxious weeds, or invasive plants; for visibility and
2 1 safety reasons; and within rest areas, weigh stations, and
2 2 wayside parks.
2 3 LSB 5733HV 82
2 4 dea/nh/8