A bill that would limit the authority of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to purchase land for public use was shelved Wednesday ahead of a key legislative deadline.
The House State Government Committee opted not to advance the bill, making it unlikely to become law this year. Still, the committee's vice chair left open the possibility of the bill having some life left, noting that “nothing's ever dead in this building.”
Senate File 2324 would have banned the DNR from purchasing land at an auction and from receiving donated land from a nonprofit that bought it at an auction. Dozens of outdoors enthusiasts came to the Capitol this week to protest its passage. Supporters said the bill would allow Iowa farmers to more easily buy land without competition from the state.
Rep. Austin Harris, R-Moulton, wrote the House version of the bill and is vice chair of the State Government Committee. He said some Republican lawmakers were skeptical of the bill ahead of Wednesday’s committee meeting.
“There were some concerns shared by some members as of right now, so we decided to pull the bill for today,” Harris said. “We'll see what future avenues exist moving forward, but for today, we're just putting a pause on the bill.”
The bill likely will not clear this week’s legislative funnel deadline, which requires it to pass out of a House committee to be eligible for consideration going forward. The Iowa Senate approved the bill last month.
Harris said the DNR already has a policy of not purchasing land at auctions, and the bill would simply codify that agency rule. He said during a subcommittee meeting Tuesday that the opposition was motivated by "scare tactics."
"I believe with all my heart that this is good policy that was created by the DNR," he said. "This bill will not change a single thing, it does not threaten public land any more than the current policy does."
During a subcommittee hearing Tuesday, conservation groups, hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts said they worried the bill would limit Iowans’ options for outdoor recreation.
Rod Marlatt, chair of the Fayette County Conservation Board, told lawmakers that outdoor recreation is one of the top reasons people visit, move to and stay in Iowa.
“Recreation opportunities are the top reasons for visitors to come to Iowa and subsequently move to our state,” he said. “Today’s visitors are tomorrow's residents. Beyond that, our public lands also retain residents both young and old."
About 1 percent of Iowa’s land is public and available for use by Iowans, according to the DNR.
After the bill failed to pass out of the committee Wednesday, a spokesperson for the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation said the group was grateful that Iowans showed up to voice their concerns.
"We're so appreciative to everyone that advocated on this bill, reached out to their own legislators and members of the committee," he said. "... It just shows how much people really care about protecting public natural areas in Iowa."
Lawmakers have tried to restrict the state's ability to buy land for several years. A bill last year that would have required the state to prioritize maintenance of existing land over purchasing new land failed to pass.
The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation was one of the few groups that spoke in favor of the bill Tuesday. Kevin Kuhle, a lobbyist for the group, said the bill would mean farmers are not competing with the state for land that has risen dramatically in value in recent years. Kuhle noted, though, that the DNR’s current policy means they are not competing with farmers at auctions.
“In the past our farmers have had concerns about government involvement competing against farmers for land purchases,” he said. “We appreciate that the state has stated that they are largely not competing for land, competition isn’t the goal.”
Fred Long, president of the Iowa Conservation Alliance, said high farmland prices, not DNR competition, is preventing small and beginning farmers from buying land.
Iowa's farmland prices reached a historic high in 2023 at $11,835 an acre, according to Iowa State University.
"The young guy that's getting started, he doesn't have the money to wait 30 years to get a profit, so that's why he can't get started," Long said.https://www.thegazette.com/state-government/lawmakers-hit-brakes-on-bill-to-ban-iowa-dnr-from-buying-land-at-auction/
The House State Government Committee opted not to advance the bill, making it unlikely to become law this year. Still, the committee's vice chair left open the possibility of the bill having some life left, noting that “nothing's ever dead in this building.”
Senate File 2324 would have banned the DNR from purchasing land at an auction and from receiving donated land from a nonprofit that bought it at an auction. Dozens of outdoors enthusiasts came to the Capitol this week to protest its passage. Supporters said the bill would allow Iowa farmers to more easily buy land without competition from the state.
Rep. Austin Harris, R-Moulton, wrote the House version of the bill and is vice chair of the State Government Committee. He said some Republican lawmakers were skeptical of the bill ahead of Wednesday’s committee meeting.
“There were some concerns shared by some members as of right now, so we decided to pull the bill for today,” Harris said. “We'll see what future avenues exist moving forward, but for today, we're just putting a pause on the bill.”
The bill likely will not clear this week’s legislative funnel deadline, which requires it to pass out of a House committee to be eligible for consideration going forward. The Iowa Senate approved the bill last month.
Harris said the DNR already has a policy of not purchasing land at auctions, and the bill would simply codify that agency rule. He said during a subcommittee meeting Tuesday that the opposition was motivated by "scare tactics."
"I believe with all my heart that this is good policy that was created by the DNR," he said. "This bill will not change a single thing, it does not threaten public land any more than the current policy does."
Conservationists oppose bill
During a subcommittee hearing Tuesday, conservation groups, hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts said they worried the bill would limit Iowans’ options for outdoor recreation.
Rod Marlatt, chair of the Fayette County Conservation Board, told lawmakers that outdoor recreation is one of the top reasons people visit, move to and stay in Iowa.
“Recreation opportunities are the top reasons for visitors to come to Iowa and subsequently move to our state,” he said. “Today’s visitors are tomorrow's residents. Beyond that, our public lands also retain residents both young and old."
About 1 percent of Iowa’s land is public and available for use by Iowans, according to the DNR.
After the bill failed to pass out of the committee Wednesday, a spokesperson for the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation said the group was grateful that Iowans showed up to voice their concerns.
"We're so appreciative to everyone that advocated on this bill, reached out to their own legislators and members of the committee," he said. "... It just shows how much people really care about protecting public natural areas in Iowa."
Lawmakers have tried to restrict the state's ability to buy land for several years. A bill last year that would have required the state to prioritize maintenance of existing land over purchasing new land failed to pass.
Would it help farmers?
The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation was one of the few groups that spoke in favor of the bill Tuesday. Kevin Kuhle, a lobbyist for the group, said the bill would mean farmers are not competing with the state for land that has risen dramatically in value in recent years. Kuhle noted, though, that the DNR’s current policy means they are not competing with farmers at auctions.
“In the past our farmers have had concerns about government involvement competing against farmers for land purchases,” he said. “We appreciate that the state has stated that they are largely not competing for land, competition isn’t the goal.”
Fred Long, president of the Iowa Conservation Alliance, said high farmland prices, not DNR competition, is preventing small and beginning farmers from buying land.
Iowa's farmland prices reached a historic high in 2023 at $11,835 an acre, according to Iowa State University.
"The young guy that's getting started, he doesn't have the money to wait 30 years to get a profit, so that's why he can't get started," Long said.https://www.thegazette.com/state-government/lawmakers-hit-brakes-on-bill-to-ban-iowa-dnr-from-buying-land-at-auction/
