Fiscal Note
Fiscal Services Division
SF 529 – Horse Trails (LSB2430SV)
Staff Contact: Austin Brinks (515.725.2200) austin.brinks@legis.iowa.gov
Fiscal Note Version – New
Description
Senate File 529 allows a person to make a reservation at an equestrian campground three
months in advance of the date of the person’s reservation if the person attests during
registration, and proves upon check-in, that the person will stable equine animals during the
person’s stay. Any other person may also make a reservation at an equestrian campground but
may only do so up to two months in advance.
The Bill expands the list of simple misdemeanors relating to camping on public lands by
including a violation if a person reserves an equestrian campground more than three months
in advance, but does not use it to stable equine animals during a person’s stay.
Background
Currently, reservations for campgrounds can be made three months in advance. Both
equestrian and nonequestrian campers may camp at equestrian campgrounds, and both may
reserve a space in the three-month window. Equestrian campgrounds are sites that have
amenities and trails for equine animals.
Assumptions
• The following will not change over the projection period: charge, conviction, and sentencing
patterns and trends; prisoner length of stay (LOS); revocation rates; plea bargaining; and
other criminal justice system policies and practices.
• A lag effect of six months is assumed from the effective date of this Bill to the date of first
entry of affected offenders into the correctional system.
• Marginal costs for county jails cannot be estimated due to a lack of data. For purposes of
this analysis, the marginal cost for county jails is assumed to be $50 per day.
Correctional Impact
Senate File 529 expands a simple misdemeanor. As a result, the correctional impact cannot be
estimated due to a lack of existing data. In FY 2022, there were three violations related to
camping on public lands. A conviction for a simple misdemeanor does not result in a prison
sentence but does carry the possibility of confinement in jail for up to 30 days. Refer to the
Legislative Services Agency (LSA) memo addressed to the General Assembly, Cost Estimates
Used for Correctional Impact Statements, dated January 20, 2023, for information related to
the correctional system.
Minority Impact
Senate File 529 expands an offense, and the minority impact cannot be determined due to a
lack of conviction data. Refer to the LSA memo addressed to the General Assembly, Minority
Impact Statement, dated January 20, 2023, for information related to minorities in the criminal
justice system.
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Fiscal Impact
The fiscal impact related to the creation of a new criminal offense cannot be estimated due to a
lack of existing data. The average State cost for one simple misdemeanor conviction ranges
from $35 to $375.
Sources
Department of Natural Resources
Division of Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning, Department of Human Rights
Legislative Services Agency
/s/ Jennifer Acton
March 8, 2023
Doc ID 1370506
The fiscal note for this Bill was prepared pursuant to Joint Rule 17 and the Iowa Code. Data used in
developing this fiscal note is available from the Fiscal Services Division of the Legislative Services
Agency upon request.
www.legis.iowa.gov
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