HF 971 (LSB 2285HZ (1) 91)

HOUSE FILE 971

BY  COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

(SUCCESSOR TO HF 581)
(SUCCESSOR TO HF 130)

A BILL FOR

An Act establishing a scenic byways enhancement fund, including by providing for voluntary contributions to the fund, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  307.50  Scenic byways enhancement fund.
   1.  A scenic byways enhancement fund is created in the state treasury under the control of the department. The fund shall consist of moneys transferred to the fund pursuant to section 321.44B and any other moneys appropriated to or deposited in the fund. Moneys in the fund are appropriated to the department for the support, development, maintenance, and enhancement, including but not limited to litter prevention, of the scenic byways of this state.
   2.  Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys in the fund that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the close of a fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available for expenditure for the purposes designated. Notwithstanding section 12C.7, subsection 2, interest or earnings on moneys in the fund shall be credited to the fund.
    Sec. 2.  NEW SECTION.  321.44B  Voluntary contribution —— scenic byways enhancement fund —— amount retained by county treasurer.
   For each application for vehicle registration renewal, the county treasurer or the department shall request through use of a written form, and, if the application is made in person, through verbal communication, that an applicant make a voluntary contribution of one dollar or more, computed to the nearest whole dollar, to the scenic byways enhancement fund established in section 307.50. One hundred percent of the moneys collected by the county and one hundred percent of the moneys collected by the department in the form of contributions shall be remitted to the treasurer of state for deposit in the scenic byways enhancement fund to be used for the purposes specified for the fund. However, up to five percent of the moneys collected by the county may be retained by the county treasurer for deposit in the general fund of the county. The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to administer this section.
    Sec. 3.  Section 331.557, subsection 1, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  Issue, renew, and replace lost or damaged vehicle registration cards or plates and issue and transfer certificates of title for vehicles, and collect voluntary contributions, as provided in sections 321.17 through 321.20B, 321.22 through 321.26, 321.28 through 321.32, 321.34, 321.35, and 321.37 through 321.52.
    Sec. 4.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2026.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill creates a scenic byways enhancement fund and appropriates moneys in the fund to the department of transportation (DOT) for the support, development, maintenance, and enhancement, including litter prevention, of scenic byways. For each application to renew the registration of a vehicle, the county treasurer or the DOT is required to request that an applicant make a voluntary contribution of $1 or more, computed to the nearest whole dollar, to the scenic byways enhancement fund. Up to 5 percent of the moneys collected by the county may be retained by the county treasurer for deposit in the general fund of the county.
   The bill takes effect January 1, 2026.