House
Joint
Resolution
7
-
Introduced
HOUSE
JOINT
RESOLUTION
7
BY
HIGHFILL
HOUSE
JOINT
RESOLUTION
A
Joint
Resolution
proposing
an
amendment
to
the
Constitution
1
of
the
State
of
Iowa
allowing
the
general
assembly
to
2
provide
for
the
reorganization
of
counties.
3
BE
IT
RESOLVED
BY
THE
GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
OF
THE
STATE
OF
IOWA:
4
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Section
1.
The
following
amendment
to
the
Constitution
of
1
the
State
of
Iowa
is
proposed:
2
1.
Section
30
of
Article
III
of
the
Constitution
of
the
3
State
of
Iowa
is
repealed
and
the
following
adopted
in
lieu
4
thereof:
5
Local
or
special
laws
——
general
and
uniform
——
boundaries
of
6
counties.
SEC.
30.
The
general
assembly
shall
not
pass
local
7
or
special
laws
in
the
following
cases:
8
For
the
assessment
and
collection
of
taxes
for
state,
county,
9
or
road
purposes;
10
For
laying
out,
opening,
and
working
roads
or
highways;
11
For
changing
the
names
of
persons;
12
For
the
incorporation
of
cities
and
towns;
13
For
vacating
roads,
town
plats,
streets,
alleys,
or
public
14
squares;
15
For
locating
or
changing
county
seats,
except
when
located
or
16
changed
coincident
to
the
reorganization
of
counties.
17
In
all
the
cases
above
enumerated,
and,
in
all
other
cases,
18
except
for
laws
enacted
pursuant
to
Article
XI,
section
2,
19
where
a
general
law
can
be
made
applicable,
all
laws
shall
be
20
general,
and
of
uniform
operation
throughout
the
state.
21
2.
Section
2
of
Article
XI
of
the
Constitution
of
the
State
22
of
Iowa
is
repealed
beginning
with
the
second
Monday
in
January
23
2021
and
the
following
adopted
in
lieu
thereof:
24
Counties.
SEC.
2.
The
general
assembly
may
by
law
provide
25
for
the
direct
or
procedural
reorganization
of
counties.
26
3.
Section
8
of
Article
XI
of
the
Constitution
of
the
State
27
of
Iowa
is
repealed
and
the
following
adopted
in
lieu
thereof:
28
Seat
of
government
established
——
state
university.
SEC.
29
8.
The
seat
of
government
is
hereby
permanently
established,
30
as
now
fixed
by
law,
at
the
city
of
Des
Moines;
and
the
state
31
university,
at
Iowa
City.
32
Sec.
2.
REFERRAL
AND
PUBLICATION.
The
foregoing
proposed
33
amendment
to
the
Constitution
of
the
State
of
Iowa
is
referred
34
to
the
general
assembly
to
be
chosen
at
the
next
general
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election
for
members
of
the
general
assembly,
and
the
secretary
1
of
state
is
directed
to
cause
the
proposed
amendment
to
be
2
published
for
three
consecutive
months
previous
to
the
date
of
3
that
election
as
provided
by
law.
4
EXPLANATION
5
The
inclusion
of
this
explanation
does
not
constitute
agreement
with
6
the
explanation’s
substance
by
the
members
of
the
general
assembly.
7
This
joint
resolution
proposes
an
amendment
to
the
8
Constitution
of
the
State
of
Iowa
allowing
the
general
assembly
9
to
enact
legislation
for
the
reorganization
of
counties
10
beginning
in
January
2021.
The
proposed
amendment
also
11
allows
that
general
assembly
to
locate
and
change
county
seats
12
coincident
to
the
reorganization
of
counties.
13
The
proposed
amendment
repeals
provisions
requiring
that
no
14
new
county
shall
be
created
containing
less
than
432
square
15
miles
and
that
the
territory
of
certain
counties
not
be
reduced
16
below
that
area.
The
proposed
amendment
maintains
current
17
constitutional
requirements
that
the
seat
of
government
and
the
18
state
university
be
permanently
established
in
Des
Moines
and
19
Iowa
City,
respectively,
but
removes
reference
to
the
counties
20
in
which
those
cities
are
currently
located.
21
The
resolution,
if
adopted,
would
be
referred
to
the
next
22
general
assembly
for
adoption
before
being
submitted
to
the
23
electorate
for
ratification.
24
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