SF 354 (LSB 1297XS (5) 91)

SENATE FILE 354

BY  BOUSSELOT

A BILL FOR

An Act authorizing a negotiation for the purchase of certain land from the state of Minnesota by the state of Iowa, and including effective date provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  AUTHORIZATION —— BORDER NEGOTIATION WITH MINNESOTA.
   1.  The governor shall appoint a resident of the state of Iowa, and the majority leader of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives shall each appoint one member from their respective chambers of the general assembly, which three persons are hereby authorized to collectively negotiate on behalf of the state of Iowa with the state of Minnesota for the purchase of the following Minnesota counties: Rock, Nobles, Jackson, Martin, Faribault, Freeborn, Mower, Fillmore, and Houston.
   2.  Any negotiated agreement under this section must include all of the following provisions:
   a.  The title of record in the state of Minnesota to any lands, the jurisdiction of which is relinquished to the state of Iowa, shall be accepted as the record title by the courts of Iowa.
   b.  Any pending suits or actions concerning lands relinquished to the state of Iowa may be prosecuted to final judgment in the state of Minnesota and such judgments shall be accorded full force and effect in Iowa.
   3.  Any negotiated agreement under this section shall be void unless all of the following occur:
   a.  The passage of an Act approving the agreement by the general assembly, signed by the governor.
   b.  The passage of a similar Act relinquishing and waiving to the state of Iowa all claim of jurisdiction over the land by the legislature of Minnesota.
   c.  The passage of an Act of Congress approving the change of jurisdiction.
   d.  The passage of an Act by the general assembly appropriating moneys to pay for the purchase of the land relinquished by the state of Minnesota, if payment is required by the agreement.
   e.  The passage of a constitutional amendment by the state of Iowa ratifying the new boundaries of the state.
    Sec. 2.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act, being deemed of immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill authorizes the governor to appoint an Iowa resident, and the majority leader of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives to each appoint a member of the general assembly from their respective chambers, to engage in negotiations with the state of Minnesota for the purchase of nine of Minnesota’s counties by Iowa. A negotiated agreement must include provisions relating to land ownership and lawsuits concerning land relinquished by Minnesota.
   An agreement is not valid unless passed into law by the general assembly and the Minnesota legislature, and approved by the United States Congress. The general assembly must also appropriate moneys to pay for the purchase of the land if necessary and Iowa must pass a constitutional amendment to ratify the new boundaries of the state.
   The bill takes effect upon enactment.