Iowa 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: Enacted

SF 654 — A bill for an act relating to wildlife, including the treatment of beaver dams, identification for traps, snares, and tree stands, maximum fur dealer license fees, and deer depredation, and making penalties applicable.

Last action — Signed by Governor.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced May 09, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Kim Reynolds (Republican) on June 02, 2026.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 70% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 2 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

The bill modifies regulations related to wildlife management and trapping.

This legislation revises rules for handling beaver dams, identifies requirements for traps and tree stands, and adjusts licensing fees for fur dealers. It also establishes penalties related to these changes.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

98 added · 118 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of Senate File 654 includes changes to sections regarding wildlife management, specifically addressing beaver dams, trap identification, and fur dealer license fees. Notably, it introduces provisions for landowners to obtain permits for managing damage caused by wild animals. These changes are significant because they aim to help farmers and landowners better protect their crops and property from wildlife-related damage, while also streamlining the regulatory process associated with wildlife control.

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Senate File 654 - Enrolled Senate File 654 AN ACT RELATING TO WILDLIFE, INCLUDING THE TREATMENT OF BEAVER DAMS, IDENTIFICATION FOR TRAPS, SNARES, AND TREE STANDS, MAXIMUM FUR DEALER LICENSE FEES, AND DEER DEPREDATION, AND MAKING PENALTIES APPLICABLE.
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
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481A.41 Tree stands for hunting deer on public land —— identification —— prohibition.
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A person shall not place a tree stand for hunting deer on public land unless the stand is affixed with and exhibits a metal plate that plainly shows the department-issued identification number of the owner of the stand.
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A person who fails to properly identify a tree stand placed on public land belonging to the person is subject to a scheduled fine under section 805.8B, subsection 3, paragraph “b”.
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An owner of a tree stand placed on public land shall not be held liable for damage to personal property or an injury resulting from another person’s use of the tree stand.
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The natural resource commission shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to implement this section.
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2.
Section 481A.90, subsection 2, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
2.
This section does not prohibit the owner, the owner’s agent, or a drainage district from destroying a den or breaching or altering a beaver dam to protect the owner’s property.
Show all 77 changed rows (37 more)
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Senate File 654, p.
2 Sec.
3.
Section 481A.92, subsection 1, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
1.
A person shall not use or attempt to use colony traps in taking, capturing, trapping, or killing any game or fur-bearing animals except muskrats as determined by rule of the commission.
Box traps capable of capturing more than one game or fur-bearing animal at each setting are prohibited.
A valid hunting license is required for box trapping cottontail rabbits and squirrels.
All traps and snares used for the taking of fur-bearing animals shall have a metal tag attached plainly labeled with the user’s department-issued identification number or name and address.
All traps and snares, except those which that are placed entirely under water, shall be checked at least once every twenty-four hours.
Officers appointed by the department may confiscate such traps and snares found in use that are not properly labeled or checked.
Sec.
4.
Section 481A.95, subsection 2, Code 2026, is amended by striking the subsection and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
2.
Fees for a license issued under this section shall be no more than fifty dollars annually for a resident or a nonresident fur dealer.
Sec.
5.
Section 481C.2, subsections 1 and 2, Code 2026, are amended to read as follows:
1.
The director of the department of natural resources shall enter into a memorandum of agreement with the United States department of agriculture, animal damage control division.
The wild animal depredation unit shall serve and act as the liaison to the department for the producers in the state who suffer crop, horticultural product, tree, or nursery damage an economic loss to agriculture, horticulture, or silviculture operations due to wild animals.
2.
The department shall issue depredation permits and deer shooting permits to any landowner or tenant, as defined under section 483A.24, subsection 2, upon receiving written approval from the landowner, who incurs crop, horticultural product, tree, or nursery damage suffers an economic loss of one thousand dollars or more to agriculture, horticulture, or silviculture operations due to wild animals.
The department Senate File 654, p.
3 shall allow any conservation officer to issue permits pursuant to this chapter.
Sec.
6.
Section 481C.2A, subsection 2, paragraph a, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
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Deer shooting permits shall be available for issuance to landowners or tenants, as defined under section 483A.24, subsection 2, upon receiving written approval from the landowner, who incur crop, horticultural product, tree, or nursery damage suffer an economic loss to agriculture, horticulture, or silviculture operations as provided in section 481C.2 and shall be available for issuance for use on areas where public safety may be an issue.
Sc.
Sec.
Secion 5.8, ubscton , argrah , Cde 226, s mnded o ed s fllws:
7.
Section 805.8B, subsection 3, paragraph b, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
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For violations of section 481A.41, subsection 1, sections 481A.54, 481A.69, 481A.71, 481A.72, 482.6, 483A.3, 483A.6, 483A.8A, 483A.19, 483A.27, and 483A.27A, the scheduled fine is thirty dollars.
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______________________________ ______________________________ AMY SINCLAIR PAT GRASSLEY President of the Senate Speaker of the House I hereby certify that this bill originated in the Senate and is known as Senate File 654, Ninety-first General Assembly.
W.
______________________________ W.
HRLS SITSON Gvenor
CHARLES SMITHSON Secretary of the Senate Approved _______________, 2026 ______________________________ KIM REYNOLDS Governor
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Amendments

2 amendments

Click Show changes on an amendment above to see how it modifies the bill.

Action History

  1. Signed by Governor.

  2. Reported correctly enrolled, signed by President and Speaker, and sent to Governor.

  3. Message from Senate.

  4. Immediate message.

  5. Passed Senate, yeas 32, nays 12.

  6. Senate concurred with S-5216.

  7. Explanation of vote.

  8. Message from House, with amendment S-5216.

  9. Immediate message.

  10. Passed House, yeas 66, nays 23.

  11. Amendment H-8408 filed, yeas 65, nays 24, adopted.

  12. Placed on Ways and Means calendar.

  13. Committee vote: Yeas, 24. Nays, 0. Excused, 1.

  14. Committee report, recommending passage.

  15. Subcommittee recommends passage.

  16. Subcommittee Meeting: 03/11/2026 12:00PM House Lounge 2.

  17. Subcommittee: Wulf, Gjerde and Hermanson.

  18. Read first time, referred to Ways and Means.

  19. Message from Senate.

  20. Immediate message.

  21. Passed Senate, yeas 45, nays 0.

  22. Committee report, approving bill.

  23. Introduced, placed on Ways and Means calendar.

Sponsors

  • COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS · Primary

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 149 not signed on · 12 voted No

Sponsors (1)

  • COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (149)

149 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 149 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Shall the bill pass?

Passed 32 Yea · 12 Nay · 6 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 30003
Democrat 21204
Total 321207
% of votes cast 63%24%0%14%
How each member voted (51)
Member Party Vote
Art Staed Democrat Nay
Catelin Drey Democrat Nay
Cindy Winckler Democrat Nay
Herman C. Quirmbach Democrat Nay
Izaah Knox Democrat Yea
Janet Petersen Democrat Nay
Janice Weiner Democrat Nay
Liz Bennett Democrat Nay
Matt Blake Democrat Nay
Mike Zimmer Democrat Yea
Molly Donahue Democrat Not Voting
Renee Hardman Democrat Nay
Sarah Trone Garriott Democrat Not Voting
Sarah Trone Garriott Democrat Not Voting
Thomas Townsend Democrat Nay
Tony Bisignano Democrat Nay
William A. Dotzler Jr. Democrat Nay
Zach Wahls Democrat Not Voting
Adrian Dickey Republican Yea
Amy Sinclair Republican Yea
Annette Sweeney Republican Yea
Carrie Koelker Republican Yea
Charlie McClintock Republican Not Voting
Cherielynn Westrich Republican Yea
Dan Dawson Republican Yea
Dan Zumbach Republican Yea
Dave Sires Republican Yea
David D. Rowley Republican Not Voting
Dawn Driscoll Republican Yea
Dennis Guth Republican Yea
Doug Campbell Republican Yea
Jack Whitver Republican Yea
Jason Schultz Republican Yea
Jeff Reichman Republican Yea
Jeff Taylor Republican Yea
Jesse Green Republican Yea
Julian B. Garrett Republican Not Voting
Kara Warme Republican Yea
Ken Rozenboom Republican Yea
Kerry Gruenhagen Republican Yea
Kevin Alons Republican Yea
Lynn Evans Republican Yea
Mark Costello Republican Yea
Mark S. Lofgren Republican Yea
Mike Bousselot Republican Yea
Mike Klimesh Republican Yea
Mike Pike Republican Yea
Sandy Salmon Republican Yea
Scott Webster Republican Yea
Tim Kraayenbrink Republican Yea
Tom Shipley Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Shall the bill pass?

Passed 45 Yea · 0 Nay · 5 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 31002
Democrat 15001
Unaffiliated 0001
Total 46004
% of votes cast 92%0%0%8%
How each member voted (50)
Member Party Vote
De Witt — Not Voting
Art Staed Democrat Yea
Cindy Winckler Democrat Yea
Herman C. Quirmbach Democrat Yea
Izaah Knox Democrat Yea
Janet Petersen Democrat Yea
Janice Weiner Democrat Yea
Liz Bennett Democrat Yea
Matt Blake Democrat Yea
Mike Zimmer Democrat Yea
Molly Donahue Democrat Yea
Sarah Trone Garriott Democrat Yea
Sarah Trone Garriott Democrat Yea
Thomas Townsend Democrat Yea
Tony Bisignano Democrat Not Voting
William A. Dotzler Jr. Democrat Yea
Zach Wahls Democrat Yea
Adrian Dickey Republican Yea
Amy Sinclair Republican Yea
Annette Sweeney Republican Yea
Carrie Koelker Republican Yea
Charlie McClintock Republican Not Voting
Cherielynn Westrich Republican Yea
Dan Dawson Republican Yea
Dan Zumbach Republican Yea
Dave Sires Republican Yea
David D. Rowley Republican Yea
Dawn Driscoll Republican Yea
Dennis Guth Republican Yea
Doug Campbell Republican Yea
Jack Whitver Republican Yea
Jason Schultz Republican Not Voting
Jeff Reichman Republican Yea
Jeff Taylor Republican Yea
Jesse Green Republican Yea
Julian B. Garrett Republican Yea
Kara Warme Republican Yea
Ken Rozenboom Republican Yea
Kerry Gruenhagen Republican Yea
Kevin Alons Republican Yea
Lynn Evans Republican Yea
Mark Costello Republican Yea
Mark S. Lofgren Republican Yea
Mike Bousselot Republican Yea
Mike Klimesh Republican Yea
Mike Pike Republican Yea
Sandy Salmon Republican Yea
Scott Webster Republican Yea
Tim Kraayenbrink Republican Yea
Tom Shipley Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

environment
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SF 654?
SF 654 is sponsored by COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS.
What is the current status of SF 654?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced May 09, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track SF 654?
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