SF 280 – Residency for armed forces for hunting, fishing and trapping privileges
SF 282 – Repeal of Honey Creek Premier Destination Park bond program
SF 537 – Coyote hunting using infrared sighting
FLOOR ACTION:
SF 280 – Residency for armed forces for hunting, fishing and trapping privileges
SF 280 allows active duty members of the armed services stationed and domiciled at the Rock Island Arsenal to qualify as Iowa residents for hunting, fishing and trapping privileges. Their spouses and dependents also qualify. This change would mirror legislation enacted last session that allowed these service members to qualify as Iowa residents to register their dependent children in Iowa school districts.
Currently, the active duty service member must be stationed at the military installation and be domiciled in Iowa to qualify as a resident. The current law also allows active duty military service members who are stationed in Iowa or have claimed residency and filed a state individual income tax return in Iowa in the previous year to receive resident hunting, fishing and trapping privileges.
[3/12: 49-0 (Vacant: Danielson)]
SF 282 – Repeal of Honey Creek Premier Destination Park bond program
SF 282 repeals Code language regarding the Honey Creek Premier Destination Park bond program. The bond program was established to finance construction and development of the Honey Creek Destination Resort State Park. The Legislature appropriated money for defeasement of the bonds in 2013, and the bonds were redeemed on June 1, 2016. By function of the Code language establishing the bond authority, the authority was dissolved two years after the redemption of the bonds on June 1, 2018.
The bill makes a technical change to preserve existing Code language regarding competitive bidding requirements for the resort. The Code language that established the bond authority included an exemption for purchases related to the operation of the resort, but not to development or construction of facilities at the resort. Because the park remains in operation (even though the bond authority has been dissolved), the competitive bidding language is being maintained in a new Code section.
[3/11: 46-0 (Absent: Edler, J. Smith, Zaun; Vacant: Danielson)]
SF 537 – Coyote hunting using infrared sighting
SF 537 would allow the use of artificial light for hunting coyotes. Current state law prohibits artificial light while hunting in most situations. Artificial light is often used by poachers. Additionally, the use of the light at night does not provide full view of the target; safe hunting practices call for the hunter to only shoot if they can identify what is behind the target.
The bill allows the use of artificial light to only infrared light sources. This would prevent the use of spotlights, which some poachers use to “freeze” the animal. The infrared light source would allow those hunting coyotes better visibility when hunting at night. Night is the preferable time to hunt coyotes because that is when they are the most active. Night hunting is allowed under current law, but the prohibition on artificial light means hunting only happens during full moonlight or with snow cover.
The Senate adopted an amendment on the floor to prohibit the use of infrared light sources during shotgun or muzzleloader deer seasons. This should address some of the concerns regarding poaching that could happen with the allowed use of infrared light sources.
[3/13: 47-1 (No: Celsi; Vacant: Danielson)]