House File 2429 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE 2429
BY MOMMSEN
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to vessel registration exemptions, including
2 paddlecraft and water use permit decals, providing
3 penalties, and including effective date provisions.
4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
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1 Section 1. Section 462A.2, Code 2024, is amended by adding
2 the following new subsection:
3 NEW SUBSECTION. 26A. “Paddlecraft” means any human-powered
4 vessel including canoes, kayaks, and any hybrids thereof,
5 or any vessel for which a paddle is the primary mode of
6 propulsion.
7 Sec. 2. Section 462A.5, subsection 3, paragraph a,
8 subparagraph (1), Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
9 (1) For vessels of any length without motor or sail,
10 excluding paddlecraft, twelve twenty dollars.
11 Sec. 3. Section 462A.6, subsection 7, paragraph b, Code
12 2024, is amended to read as follows:
13 b. Conventional design canoes and kayak type vessels,
14 thirteen feet or less in length Paddlecraft.
15 Sec. 4. NEW SECTION. 462A.6B Water use permit decals ——
16 providing penalties.
17 A paddlecraft using the waters of this state that are
18 under the jurisdiction of the commission, operated outside a
19 designated swimming area, shall display on the external front
20 half of the vessel a water use permit decal. Any registered
21 paddlecraft with proper registration displayed is exempt
22 from displaying the water use permit decal. The water use
23 permit decal shall cost seven dollars plus any applicable
24 administrative fees and authorized agent writing fees. The
25 water use permit decal shall only be sold and issued by a
26 county recorder or a licensed agent designated by the director
27 pursuant to section 483A.11. The annual water use permit
28 decal shall be valid from January 1 through December 31 of
29 the same calendar year. Moneys from the purchase of water
30 use permit decals shall be deposited in the state fish and
31 game protection fund created in section 456A.17 and shall be
32 used for water trail development and management, enforcing
33 navigation laws, and promoting water safety. The department
34 may promulgate rules as necessary to implement this section. A
35 person violating this section is guilty of a simple misdemeanor
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1 punishable as a scheduled violation pursuant to section 805.8B,
2 subsection 1, paragraph “a”.
3 Sec. 5. Section 805.8B, subsection 1, paragraph a, Code
4 2024, is amended to read as follows:
5 a. For violations of registration, inspections,
6 identification, and record provisions under sections 462A.5,
7 462A.6B, 462A.35, and 462A.37, and for unused or improper or
8 defective lights and warning devices under section 462A.9,
9 subsections 3, 4, 5, 9, and 10, the scheduled fine is twenty
10 dollars.
11 Sec. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect January 1,
12 2025.
13 EXPLANATION
14 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
15 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
16 This bill relates to vessel registration exemptions,
17 including paddlecraft and water use permit decals.
18 The bill defines “paddlecraft” as a human-powered vessel for
19 which a paddle is the primary mode of propulsion, and includes
20 canoes and kayaks. The owner of a paddlecraft is required
21 to register the vessel with the natural resources commission
22 (commission). Under the bill, a paddlecraft is exempt from the
23 registration requirements pursuant to Code section 462A.5.
24 The bill requires paddlecraft to display a water use permit
25 decal (permit) on the vessel to utilize waters under the
26 commission’s jurisdiction. A person may purchase a permit for
27 $7 from a county recorder or a licensed agent designated by the
28 director of the department of natural resources. The permit is
29 valid from January 1 through December 31 of the same calendar
30 year. The moneys collected from the sale of permits shall be
31 deposited in the state fish and game protection fund to be
32 utilized for water trail development and management, enforcing
33 navigation laws, and promoting water safety. A person
34 who fails to properly apply a permit decal to a qualifying
35 paddlecraft shall be guilty of a simple misdemeanor punishable
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1 as a scheduled fine of $20 per violation.
2 The bill takes effect January 1, 2025.
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Statutes affected:
Introduced: 462A.2, 462A.5, 462A.6, 456A.17