House File 312 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE 312
BY MOMMSEN
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to the registration requirements for certain
2 vessels, requiring water use permits, making appropriations,
3 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 2023, is amended by adding
2 the following new subsections:
3 NEW SUBSECTION. 26A. “Paddleboard” means any long,
4 narrow, somewhat rounded, and inherently buoyant recreational
5 vessel that is constructed from a flat, or nearly flat, rigid
6 material, is propelled by human muscular effort using a pole or
7 single-bladed or double-bladed paddle, and is operated by an
8 individual who is kneeling, standing, or lying on the vessel.
9 NEW SUBSECTION. 26B. “Paddlecraft” means any nonmotorized
10 vessel powered primarily by paddle but does not include
11 paddleboards.
12 Sec. 2. Section 462A.5, subsection 3, paragraph a,
13 subparagraph (1), Code 2023, is amended to read as follows:
14 (1) For vessels of any length without motor or sail, twelve
15 twenty dollars.
16 Sec. 3. Section 462A.6, subsection 7, paragraph b, Code
17 2023, is amended to read as follows:
18 b. Conventional design canoes and kayak type vessels,
19 thirteen feet or less in of any length.
20 Sec. 4. NEW SECTION. 462A.6B Water use permit decal ——
21 water trail development and maintenance fund.
22 The owner of a paddlecraft using the paddlecraft on waters of
23 this state that are under the jurisdiction of the commission
24 shall purchase and display on the front external half of the
25 paddlecraft a water use permit decal. The department shall
26 make the water use permit decal available to purchase at
27 water recreation facilities operated by the department and at
28 retail locations for seven dollars plus any administrative and
29 authorized writing fees. The water use permit decal shall be
30 valid from January 1 to December 31 of the same calendar year.
31 Moneys from the purchase of water use permit decals shall be
32 deposited in the state fish and game protection fund created in
33 section 456A.17 and may be used for water trail development,
34 enforcing navigation laws, and promoting water safety. The
35 department may adopt rules as necessary to implement this
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1 section.
2 Sec. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. The following take effect January
3 1, 2024:
4 The sections of this Act amending section 462A.6 and
5 enacting section 462A.6B.
6 EXPLANATION
7 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
8 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
9 This bill relates to registration requirements for certain
10 vessels. Under current law, vessels of any length without a
11 motor shall pay to a county recorder a registration fee of $12
12 in order for the vessel to be issued an identification number.
13 A vessel may not be used on the waters of this state that are
14 under the jurisdiction of the natural resource commission
15 (NRC) without an identification number. Current law exempts
16 conventional design canoes and kayak type vessels that are 13
17 feet or less in length from the numbering and registration
18 requirements.
19 The bill increases the registration fee for vessels of any
20 length without a motor to $20. However, the bill exempts a
21 canoe or kayak type vessel of any length from registration
22 requirements.
23 The bill requires an owner of a paddlecraft using the
24 paddlecraft on waters of this state under NRC jurisdiction to
25 purchase and display on the paddlecraft a water use permit
26 decal. The department of natural resources (DNR) shall make
27 the water use permit decal available to purchase at water
28 recreation facilities operated by DNR and at retail locations
29 for $7 plus any administrative and authorized writing fees.
30 The water use permit decal shall be valid from January 1
31 to December 31 of the same calendar year. Moneys from the
32 purchase of water use permit decals shall be deposited in the
33 state fish and game protection fund for purposes of water trail
34 development, administering and enforcing navigation laws, and
35 promoting water safety.
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 H.F. 312
1 The provisions of the bill relating to vessels exempt from
2 registration and relating to water use permit decals take
3 effect July 1, 2024.
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Statutes affected:
Introduced: 462A.2, 462A.5, 462A.6