The bill amends Section 28M.2, subsection 1 of the Iowa Code to facilitate the creation of regional transit districts. Under current law, a regional transit district can only be established if at least one of the participating counties has a population exceeding 175,000. This bill removes that population threshold, allowing any county, regardless of its population size, to create a regional transit district in collaboration with participating cities through a chapter 28E agreement.

Additionally, the bill clarifies that a regional transit district consists of the unincorporated areas of participating counties and the incorporated areas of cities within those counties that do not have an urban transit system. It also allows cities without an urban transit system to opt out of participation in a regional transit district by passing a resolution to that effect. Overall, the bill aims to enhance public transit options by broadening the criteria for establishing regional transit districts in Iowa.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 28M.2