SF 654 (LSB 2383SZ (1) 91)

SENATE FILE 654

BY  COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS

(SUCCESSOR TO SF 260)
(SUCCESSOR TO SSB 1093)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to wildlife, including the treatment of beaver dams, identification for traps, snares, and tree stands, and maximum fur dealer license fees, and making penalties applicable.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  481A.41  Tree stands for hunting deer on public land —— identification —— prohibition.
   1.  A person shall not place a tree stand for hunting deer on public land unless the stand is affixed with and exhibits a metal plate that plainly shows the department-issued identification number of the owner of the stand. A person who fails to properly identify a tree stand placed on public land belonging to the person is subject to a scheduled fine under section 805.8B, subsection 3, paragraph “b”.
   2.  An owner of a tree stand placed on public land shall not be held liable for damage to personal property or an injury resulting from another person’s use of the tree stand.
   3.  The natural resource commission shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to implement this section.
    Sec. 2.  Section 481A.90, subsection 2, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   2.  This section does not prohibit the owner, the owner’s agent, or a drainage district from destroying a den or breaching or altering a beaver dam to protect the owner’s property.
    Sec. 3.  Section 481A.92, subsection 1, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  A person shall not use or attempt to use colony traps in taking, capturing, trapping, or killing any game or fur-bearing animals except muskrats as determined by rule of the commission. Box traps capable of capturing more than one game or fur-bearing animal at each setting are prohibited. A valid hunting license is required for box trapping cottontail rabbits and squirrels. All traps and snares used for the taking of fur-bearing animals shall have a metal tag attached plainly labeled with the user’s department-issued identification number or name and address. All traps and snares, except those which that are placed entirely under water, shall be checked at least once every twenty-four hours. Officers appointed by the department may confiscate such traps and snares found in use that are not properly labeled or checked.
    Sec. 4.  Section 481A.95, subsection 2, Code 2025, is amended by striking the subsection and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
   2.  Fees for a license issued under this section shall be no more than fifty dollars annually for a resident or a nonresident fur dealer.
    Sec. 5.  Section 805.8B, subsection 3, paragraph b, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   b.  For violations of section 481A.41, subsection 1, sections 481A.54, 481A.69, 481A.71, 481A.72, 482.6, 483A.3, 483A.6, 483A.8A, 483A.19, 483A.27, and 483A.27A, the scheduled fine is thirty dollars.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to wildlife, including the treatment of beaver dams, identification for traps, snares, and tree stands, and maximum fur dealer license fees.
   The bill requires that a stand placed on public land for hunting deer be affixed with and exhibit a metal plate that plainly shows the department-issued identification number of the owner of the stand. An owner who does not properly identify a tree stand placed on public land belonging to the owner is subject to a scheduled fine of $30. The bill provides that an owner of a tree stand placed on public land shall not be held liable for damage to personal property or an injury resulting from another person’s use of the tree stand. The natural resource commission shall adopt rules to implement the provisions of the bill relating to tree stands.
   Under current law, a person is generally prohibited from disturbing, in any manner, any den, lodge, or house of a fur-bearing animal or beaver dam except with written permission of an officer appointed by the director. The bill allows a property owner, the property owner’s agent, or a drainage district to breach or alter a beaver dam to protect the person’s property.
   Under current law, all traps and snares used for the taking of fur-bearing animals require a metal tag attached plainly labeled with the user’s name and address. The bill allows the user the option of labeling the trap or snare with the user’s department-issued identification number instead of the user’s name and address.
   The bill creates a maximum fur dealer license fee of $50, regardless of resident status. Under current administrative rules, a resident fur dealer license costs $264 annually and a nonresident fur dealer license costs $586.50 annually or $292.50 for one day and one location. Current law allows residents from another state to purchase a fur dealer license for the set fee unless that state has reciprocity with Iowa, in which case the nonresident shall pay the reciprocity fee amount that is less than the nonresident license fee but more than the Iowa resident license fee.