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House File 448 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1designating certain county flood mitigation activities
2as an essential county purpose.
3BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 331.441, subsection 2, paragraph b,
2subparagraph (20), Code 2023, is amended to read as follows:
3(20) The construction, reconstruction, and improvement
4of all waterways, and real and personal property, useful
5for the protection or reclamation of property from floods
6or high waters, and for the protection of property from
7the effects of flood waters, including reconnection of
8floodplains, wetland and oxbow lake restoration, the deepening,
9widening, alteration, change, diversion, or other improvement
10of watercourses, the construction of levees, embankments,
11structures, impounding reservoirs, pumping stations or
12conduits, and the establishment, improvement, and widening of
13streets, avenues, boulevards, and alleys across and adjacent
14to the project, as well as the development and beautification
15of the banks and other areas adjacent to flood control
16improvements.
17EXPLANATION
18The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
19the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
20This bill amends the portion of the definition of “essential
21county purpose” relating to the protection of property from
22floodwaters to include the reconnection of floodplains and
23wetland and oxbow lake restoration.
24Under Code chapter 331, a county board of supervisors may
25generally contract indebtedness and approve the issuance of
26general obligation bonds to carry out an essential county
27purpose without approval by voters at an election, while the
28issuance of general obligation bonds to carry out a general
29county purpose generally requires approval by voters at an
30election.
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2as an essential county purpose.
3BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 331.441, subsection 2, paragraph b,
2subparagraph (20), Code 2023, is amended to read as follows:
3(20) The construction, reconstruction, and improvement
4of all waterways, and real and personal property, useful
5for the protection or reclamation of property from floods
6or high waters, and for the protection of property from
7the effects of flood waters, including reconnection of
8floodplains, wetland and oxbow lake restoration, the deepening,
9widening, alteration, change, diversion, or other improvement
10of watercourses, the construction of levees, embankments,
11structures, impounding reservoirs, pumping stations or
12conduits, and the establishment, improvement, and widening of
13streets, avenues, boulevards, and alleys across and adjacent
14to the project, as well as the development and beautification
15of the banks and other areas adjacent to flood control
16improvements.
17EXPLANATION
18The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
19the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
20This bill amends the portion of the definition of “essential
21county purpose” relating to the protection of property from
22floodwaters to include the reconnection of floodplains and
23wetland and oxbow lake restoration.
24Under Code chapter 331, a county board of supervisors may
25generally contract indebtedness and approve the issuance of
26general obligation bonds to carry out an essential county
27purpose without approval by voters at an election, while the
28issuance of general obligation bonds to carry out a general
29county purpose generally requires approval by voters at an
30election.
-1-md/ns