SEVENTH WEEK OF LEGISLATIVE SESSION
The week after funnel week is noticeably slower paced than the previous two weeks. The legislature has primarily been in floor debate and caucus. After the rush of bills clearing committees ahead of the first funnel, those bills are now eligible for floor debate.
In both chambers, the majority party meets to determine which bills have enough support to pass and be sent to the other chamber. That process will make up the bulk of the work over the next few weeks.
For a bill to remain “alive” after the March 20 funnel date, it must pass out of one chamber a committee in the opposite chamber.
LEGISLATIVE ISSUES
Two ISC-tracked bills — including one that ISC helped introduce — passed the Iowa Senate unanimously this week.
The first bill allows a hunter who will turn 65 during the calendar year to purchase a lifetime hunting and fishing license. The second bill gives the Iowa Natural Resources Commission flexibility to decide whether a nonresident must purchase a doe tag when buying a buck tag in areas with low deer populations.
Both bills have now moved to the House Natural Resources Committee, where they will begin the process again in the House.
A few additional bills could pass next week. The bill allowing nonresidents to claim resident status to get a buck tag remains eligible for debate in the House.
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 floor debate now underway, our focus shifts to moving bills through one chamber and advancing those that have already passed to ensure they clear committee in the opposite chamber and become “second funnel–proof.”
Senate Priorities
1. Thank senators for unanimously passing SF 2318.
SF 2318 is a common-sense bill that gives the Iowa Natural Resources Commission the flexibility it needs to maintain the right balance in deer populations across the state.
2. Pass SF 424 — Elimination of the Celebrity Deer Tag.
This bipartisan proposal would reduce pressure on Iowa’s deer herd while continuing to support Iowa conservation groups.
Senate Priorities
1. House Natural Resources Committee — Pass SF 2318.
Advancing this bill will help ensure science-based deer management decisions can be made efficiently and responsibly.
2. Oppose HF 2657.
HF 2657 would allow a nonresident hunter to claim residency status for the purpose of obtaining a hunting license — effectively a pathway to securing a buck tag. Iowa’s deer herd is not for sale. This policy would invite exploitation and, over time, could erode the quality of our buck population.
Iowa’s carefully crafted regulations have made our state the Whitetail Capital of the World. We must protect those standards to preserve hunting opportunities for residents and maintain the strength of our deer herd for future generations.
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
