SIXTH WEEK OF LEGISLATIVE SESSION
This week marked the first legislative “funnel” deadline. To remain eligible for consideration, a bill must pass out of a committee in at least one chamber. Bills referred to the Appropriations or Ways & Means Committees are exempt from this deadline.
Over the next few weeks, both chambers will focus on debating bills that have successfully cleared committee. During this time, subcommittee and committee activity typically slows as each chamber begins sending its approved bills to the other chamber—essentially restarting the process to meet the second funnel deadline on March 20th.
LEGISLATIVE ISSUES
The first funnel deadline gives us an opportunity to recalibrate as some bills advance and others fall away. This year brought a mixed set of outcomes—several strong bills are moving
forward, while others did not survive. That’s the legislative process at work.
Be sure to review our bill tracker below to see which proposals made it through the funnel and which did not. Now is the time to connect with your legislators—both to advocate for the bills we support and to share concerns about those we oppose.
BILL TRACKER
** New Information highlighted in yellow**
**Bills ISC supports are in green**
**Bills ISC opposes are in red**
**Bills ISC is monitoring are in blue**
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD
With the first funnel week now behind us, we have much greater clarity on which bills are still alive and which have fallen away. That clarity helps focus our advocacy efforts and ensures we’re spending our time and energy where it matters most. As always, Iowa Sportsman’s Club will continue to engage on policies that protect Iowa’s hunting heritage, conserve our wildlife, and defend opportunities for resident sportsmen and women.
Action Needed – Contact Your Senator
Please email your member of the Iowa Senate and urge them to support and bring the following bills to the floor:
SF 424 – Eliminate the Celebrity Deer Tag
• Ensures only Iowa conservation groups and the Governor get tags.
• Helps groups actually doing the work of conservation; not a celebrity who hunts the best farms, and shoots the best deer, only to help drive more pressure to our state.
• Reinforces that Iowa’s deer resource should not be reserved for special interests.
SF 2318 – Nonresident Doe Tag Purchases
• Allows the Natural Resources Commission to determine whether nonresidents must purchase a doe tag in low deer population zones.
• Provides a science-based, flexible management tool.
• Current law was put in place when deer numbers were twice what they are now.
• Helps protect struggling deer populations while maintaining responsible hunting opportunity.
Action Needed – Contact Your Representative
Please also reach out to your member of the Iowa House of Representatives and urge them to oppose HF 2657. This bill would allow a nonresident to claim residency status simply by filing an Iowa income tax return in order to obtain a buck tag.
Our deer are not for sale. This proposal opens the door to massive exploitation, inviting a flood of nonresidents seeking access to Iowa’s prized whitetails. If passed, it risks undermining decades of careful management and limiting opportunities for resident hunters and farmers. The legislature should not incentivize selling land out from under our farmers to nonresidents. Let’s protect access for Iowans and prevent the first step toward destructive nonresident hunting practices in our state.
DNR Townhalls on 2025 Hunting Season
The DNR is hosting a series of town hall-style meetings where local staff will provide updates on recently completed hunting and trapping seasons, discuss possible changes to hunting and trapping rules and regulations, and address other topics.
Meeting dates, times, and locations:
• Waverly, March 2, 6 p.m., Waverly Public Library, 1500 W. Bremer Avenue
• Bloomfield, March 3, 6 p.m., Pioneer Ridge Nature Center, 1339 Hwy. 63
• Boone, March 3, 6 p.m., Wildlife Research Station, 1436 255th Street
• Burlington, March 3, 6 p.m., Burlington Public Library, 210 Court St.
• Chariton, March 3, 6 p.m., Pin Oak Lodge, 45996 State Hwy. 14
• Creston, March 3, 6 p.m., Performing Arts Building multi-purpose room (124), 1201 West Townline Street
• Decorah, March 3, 7 p.m., Franklin W. Olin Building, Room 102, Luther College, 700 College Drive, next to the Prues Library
• Des Moines, March 3, 6:45 p.m., Des Moines Izaak Walton, 4343 George Flagg Parkway
• Maquoketa, March 3, 7 p.m., Hurstville Interpretive Center, 18670 63rd Street
• Spencer, March 3, 6:30 p.m., Iowa Lakes Community College, 1900 Grand Ave. Suite B1, Entrance #1-West side of the North Mall
• Iowa City, March 4, 5:30 p.m., Johnson County Extension Office, 3109 Old Hwy 218 South
• Charles City, March 4, 6:30 p.m., Public Library Zastrow Room, 910 Clark Street
• Okoboji, March 4, 6 p.m., Maser Monarch Lodge, 22785 Nature Center Road
• Perry, March 4, 6 p.m., Dallas County Conservation Board, Forest Park Museum administration building, 14581 K Avenue
• Algona, March 5, 7 p.m., Tietz Entrepreneurial Center at the Algona campus of Iowa Lakes Community College, 2111 Hwy 169 North
• Council Bluffs, March 5, 5:30 p.m., Bass Pro Shops, 2901 Bass Pro Drive
• Hinton, March 5, 5 p.m., Dennis L. Sohl Center for Outdoor Learning, Hillview Recreation Area, 25601 C60
• Lake View, March 5, 6:30 p.m., Speaker Park Shelter House, 418 North Blossom Street
• Toledo, March 5, 5:30 p.m., Tama County Nature Center at Otter Creek Lake Park, 2283 Park Road
• Ventura, March 5, 6 p.m., Clear Lake Wildlife Unit Office, 15326 Balsam Ave.
PLEASE DON’T HESITATE TO CONTACT ME!
Phil Jeneary
