House File 2485 - Enrolled
House File 2485
AN ACT
RELATING TO REGULATION OF WATERCRAFT AND EQUIPMENT ON PUBLIC
LAKES BY COMMON INTEREST COMMUNITIES AND CERTAIN NONPROFIT
CORPORATIONS, AND INCLUDING EFFECTIVE DATE PROVISIONS.
5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 462A.17A Common interest
2 communities —— regulation of watercraft on public lakes.
3 1. As used in this section:
4 a. “Bylaws” means the same as defined in section 499C.1.
5 b. “Common interest community” means the same as defined in
6 section 499C.1.
7 c. “Public lake” means any lake located within the
8 boundaries of this state that is a navigable body of water and
9 that is lawfully accessible by the general public.
10 d. “Rule” means the same as defined in section 499C.1.
11 e. “Unit” means the same as defined in section 499C.1.
12 f. “Unit owner” means the same as defined in section 499C.1.
13 2. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a common
14 interest community with one thousand or more units that is
15 adjacent to or abutting in part a public lake may establish
16 policies in the common interest community’s bylaws or rules
17 regarding the operation of watercraft, including but not
18 limited to equipment specifications. The authority granted to
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19 a common interest community under this subsection shall only
20 apply to unit owners and unit owners’ guests.
21 3. Notwithstanding section 462A.32, a common interest
22 community may communicate the common interest community’s
23 policies established under subsection 2 through the use of
24 private buoys and other safety-related installations until
25 the date the commission adopts rules regulating buoys and
26 other safety-related installations for the public lake that is
27 adjacent to or abuts the common interest community described in
28 subsection 2.
29 4. The natural resource commission shall adopt rules
30 pursuant to chapter 17A to administer this section.
31 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 462A.17B Nonprofit corporations ——
32 regulation of watercraft on public lakes.
33 1. As used in this section:
34 a. “Association” means a nonprofit corporation incorporated
35 under chapter 504, named as an association, and that manages a
1 community with one thousand or more units that is located on a
2 subdivision that is adjacent to or abuts a public lake.
3 b. “Bylaws” means the same as defined in section 504.141.
4 c. “Member” means a person who is a record lot owner of the
5 association.
6 d. “Public lake” means any lake located within the
7 boundaries of this state that is a navigable body of water and
8 that is lawfully accessible by the general public.
9 e. “Rules and regulations” means the rules and regulations
10 adopted by the association’s board of directors as authorized
11 by the bylaws of the association.
12 f. “Unit” means a dwelling unit designated for separate
13 ownership or occupancy or as otherwise defined in the statute
14 under which the association is organized.
15 2. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, an association
16 may establish policies in the association’s rules and
17 regulations regarding the operation of watercraft, including
18 but not limited to equipment specifications. The authority
19 granted to an association under this subsection shall only
20 apply to the association’s members and the association’s
21 members’ guests.
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22 3. Notwithstanding section 462A.32, an association may
23 communicate the association’s policies established under
24 subsection 2 through the use of private buoys and other
25 safety-related installations until the date the commission
26 adopts rules regulating buoys and other safety-related
27 installations for the public lake that is adjacent to or abuts
28 the association.
29 4. The natural resource commission shall adopt rules
30 pursuant to chapter 17A to administer this section.
31 Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act, being deemed of immediate
32 importance, takes effect upon enactment.
______________________________ ______________________________
PAT GRASSLEY AMY SINCLAIR
Speaker of the House President of the Senate
I hereby certify that this bill originated in the House and
is known as House File 2485, Ninetieth General Assembly.
______________________________
MEGHAN NELSON
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved _______________, 2024 ______________________________
KIM REYNOLDS
Governor