The bill amends existing laws regarding the approval requirements for city utilities in Iowa. It removes the requirement for a public hearing before granting, amending, extending, or renewing a franchise, allowing the city council to make these decisions in a single meeting instead of requiring multiple council meetings for consideration and voting. Additionally, the bill eliminates the need for voter approval for such proposals, replacing it with a process where the city council can set forth its proposal in a resolution, followed by a public hearing.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the process for discontinuing and disposing of city utilities by sale. It reduces the notice period from 60 days to 30 days before a public hearing and allows the city council to finalize decisions through a resolution rather than requiring voter approval. This streamlining of the approval process aims to enhance the efficiency of city governance regarding utility management while maintaining transparency through public hearings.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 364.2, 376.1