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Kim Reynolds
governor
Office of the Governor Chris Cournoyer
lt governor
June 02, 2026
The Honorable Paul Pate
Secretary of State of Iowa
State Capitol
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Dear Mr. Secretary,
I hereby transmit:
Senate File 654, an Act relating to wildlife, including the treatment of beaver dams,
identification for traps, snares, and tree stands, and maximum fur dealer license fees, and
making penalties applicable.
The above Senate File is hereby approved on this date.
Kim Reynolds I
Governor of Iowa
cc: Secretary of the Senate
Clerk of the House
STATE CAPITOL DES MOINES, IOWA 50319 515.281.5211 WWW.GOVERNOR.IOWA.GOV
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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.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
Section 1. NEW SECTION . 481A.41 Tree stands for hunting
deer on public land — identification — prohibition.
1. 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. 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".
2. 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.
3. The natural resource commission shall adopt rules
pursuant to chapter 17A to implement this section.
Sec. 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 .
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 wh-ieh
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, — tr ee >— or nursery damag e 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 -i-neu-rs— crop, — horticultural
product ,— tr ee ,— or nurs e ry damag e 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:
a. 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 nur s ery-damag e 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.
Sec. 7. Section 805. 8B, subsection 3, paragraph b, Code
2026, is amended to read as follows:
b. 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
thirtv dollars .
AMY SINCLAIR PAT GRASSLE
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. CHARLES SMITHSON
Governor