SF 616 — A bill for an act relating to the rights and obligations of certain state and local government entities in erecting, rebuilding, or repairing partition fences, including the allocation of moneys from accounts in the Iowa resources enhancement and protection fund.

Bill Text

• Introduced View text Current pdf

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill grants county conservation boards and the Department of Natural Resources the same rights and obligations as private landowners regarding partition fences, and allows them to use specific funds for related expenses.

• Section 350.4A

  A county conservation board that controls or manages a tract of land shall have the same rights and obligations as any private landowner when erecting and maintaining a partition fence under chapter 359A.

  Establishes rights and obligations for county conservation boards similar to private landowners for partition fences.

• Section 359A.1B

  The department of natural resources or a county conservation board, with respect to the entity’s control or management of a tract of land, has the same rights and obligations as any private landowner when erecting and maintaining a partition fence under this chapter.

  Grants similar rights and obligations to the Department of Natural Resources concerning partition fences.

• Section 359A.4

  must erect, maintain, rebuild, repair, trim, or cut back, or pay for → must erect, maintain, rebuild, repair, trim, or cut back, or pay for, and fix the value thereof

  Clarifies that parties also fix the value of the work assigned in the fence viewers' order.

• Section 359A.4

  repairing, trimming, or cutting back or repairing such the fence → repairing, trimming, cutting back, or repairing such the fence, together with the fees of the fence viewers and costs

  Increases clarity on the responsibilities for costs associated with fence maintenance.

• Section 359A.4

  If the parties to the fence viewers’ order are a complaining landowner and either the department of natural resources or a county conservation board, as the entity that controls or manages the adjoining tract of land, all of the following apply:

  Establishes specific provisions when a conservation entity is involved in a fence order.

• Section 359A.4

  Within thirty days of the issuance of the order, the party that is either the department of natural resources or a county conservation board shall deposit with the fence viewers an amount of money sufficient to pay for the party’s assigned portion of costs and fees as prescribed in the order.

  Requires DNR or conservation boards to deposit funds for their share of costs within a specified time.

• Section 455A.19, subsection 1, paragraph a

  Unencumbered and unobligated moneys in the open spaces account are allocated to the department as necessary to contribute to the costs of erecting, rebuilding, trimming, cutting back, or repairing a partition fence, including the costs and fees of the fence viewers, as provided in chapter 359A.

  Allows the DNR to use specific funds for partition fence costs.

• Section 455A.19, subsection 1, paragraph b

  Upon request by a county conservation board, unencumbered and unobligated moneys in the county conservation account shall be allocated to a county conservation board as necessary to contribute to the costs of erecting, rebuilding, trimming, cutting back, or repairing a partition fence, including the costs and fees of the fence viewers, as provided in chapter 359A.

  Permits county conservation boards to access funds for their share of partition fence costs.

• Section 456A.39

  The department of natural resources, as the entity that controls or manages a tract of land, shall have the same rights and obligations as any private landowner when erecting and maintaining a partition fence under chapter 359A.

  Confirms that DNR has the same fence rights and responsibilities as private landowners.

Action History

1. April 30, 2025

   Message from Senate.

2. April 29, 2025

   NOBA: Senate Floor

3. April 29, 2025

   Immediate message.

4. April 29, 2025

   Passed Senate, yeas 48, nays 0.

5. March 26, 2025

   NOBA: Senate Full Approps

6. March 25, 2025

   Committee report, approving bill.

7. March 25, 2025

   Introduced, placed on Appropriations calendar.

Sponsors

• COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS · Primary

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