This bill establishes a Scenic Byways Enhancement Fund within the state treasury, which will be managed by the Department of Transportation (DOT). The fund will consist of moneys transferred from section 321.44B and any other appropriated or deposited funds. The appropriated moneys will be used for the support, development, maintenance, and enhancement of scenic byways in Iowa, including efforts for litter prevention. Notably, any unencumbered or unobligated funds at the end of a fiscal year will not revert but will remain available for future expenditures.

Additionally, the bill mandates that for each vehicle registration renewal application, the county treasurer or DOT must request a voluntary contribution of at least $1 to the Scenic Byways Enhancement Fund. While all collected contributions will be sent to the state treasurer for the fund, counties may retain up to 5 percent of the collected moneys for their general fund. The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 321.44B