HSB 83 (LSB 1677YC (2) 91)

HOUSE FILE _____ 

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL BY CHAIRPERSON JONES)

A BILL FOR

An Act designating certain county flood mitigation activities as an essential county purpose.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 331.441, subsection 2, paragraph b, subparagraph (20), Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   (20)  The construction, reconstruction, and improvement of all waterways, and real and personal property, useful for the protection or reclamation of property from floods or high waters, and for the protection of property from the effects of flood waters floodwaters, including reconnection of floodplains, wetland and oxbow lake restoration, the deepening, widening, alteration, change, diversion, or other improvement of watercourses, the construction of levees, embankments, structures, impounding reservoirs, pumping stations or conduits, and the establishment, improvement, and widening of streets, avenues, boulevards, and alleys across and adjacent to the project, as well as the development and beautification of the banks and other areas adjacent to flood control improvements.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill amends the portion of the definition of “essential county purpose” relating to the protection of property from floodwaters to include the reconnection of floodplains and wetland and oxbow lake restoration.
   Under Code chapter 331, a county board of supervisors may generally contract indebtedness and approve the issuance of general obligation bonds to carry out an essential county purpose without approval by voters at an election, while the issuance of general obligation bonds to carry out a general county purpose generally requires approval by voters at an election.