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SF 260IOWASession 2025-2026State BillSigned into law

Enacted

Iowa Senate File 260 regulates tree stands on public land, beaver dam removal, trap identification, and caps fur dealer license fees

Original title: A bill for 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.(Formerly SSB 1093 ; See SF 654 .)

Last action · June 2, 2026: Signed by Governor . S.J. 1030 .

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What This Bill Does

Senate File 260 requires hunters to affix metal plates with department-issued identification numbers to tree stands on public land, permits property owners and drainage districts to alter beaver dams to protect property, allows trap tags to display an identification number instead of a name and address, and caps annual resident and nonresident fur dealer license fees at $50.

Why it matters

Hunters and fur dealers face new equipment labeling rules and lower license fee caps, while property owners gain explicit authorization to clear beaver dams threatening their land.

Background

Iowa Senate File 260 originated from the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Environment as a successor to SSB 1093. context

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Hunters

Hunters placing tree stands on public land must attach identification plates and ensure traps are labeled and checked every 24 hours.

Directly affected

Property owners

Property owners gain explicit authorization to alter beaver dams to protect their property and are shielded from liability for injuries caused by others using their tree stands on public land.

Directly affected

Fur dealers

Fur dealers face a maximum annual license fee cap of $50, lowering costs compared to prior administrative fee schedules.

Directly affected

Drainage districts

Drainage districts are explicitly permitted to breach or alter beaver dams to protect property.

Key Facts

Tree stands placed on public land for deer hunting must exhibit a metal plate showing the owner's department-issued identification number.
Owners of tree stands placed on public land are not held liable for property damage or injuries resulting from another person's use of the stand.
Property owners, agents, or drainage districts may destroy dens or alter beaver dams to protect their property without written officer permission.
Traps and snares used for fur-bearing animals may be labeled with a department-issued identification number instead of a name and address.

Show all 7 facts

All traps and snares not placed entirely under water must be checked at least once every twenty-four hours.
Annual license fees for resident and nonresident fur dealers are capped at a maximum of fifty dollars.
Violations of the tree stand identification requirement are subject to a scheduled fine of thirty dollars.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I don't put an ID number on my tree stand on public land?

Failing to properly identify a tree stand placed on public land subjects the owner to a of $30.

Can I remove a beaver dam that is flooding my property?

Yes, property owners, their agents, and drainage districts are permitted to breach or alter a beaver dam to protect their property.

How much does a fur dealer license cost under the new law?

Fees for a fur dealer license are capped at no more than fifty dollars annually for both residents and nonresidents.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

37 actions

Jun 2, 2026SenateEnrolled
Signed by Governor . S.J. 1030 .
May 11, 2026Senate
Reported correctly enrolled, signed by President and Speaker, and sent to Governor. S.J. 1028 .
May 2, 2026House
Message from Senate. H.J. 1111 .
May 2, 2026Senate
Immediate message. S.J. 967 .
May 2, 2026SenateFloor
Passed Senate , yeas 32, nays 12. S.J. 967 .
May 2, 2026SenateFloor
Senate concurred with S-5216 . S.J. 966 .

Show 31 earlier actions

May 1, 2026House
Explanation of vote. H.J. 1082 .
Apr 27, 2026House
Message from House, with amendment S-5216 . S.J. 896 .
Apr 27, 2026House
Immediate message. H.J. 1011 .
Apr 27, 2026HouseFloor
Passed House , yeas 66, nays 23. H.J. 1004 .
Apr 27, 2026HouseFloor
Amendment H-8408 filed, yeas 65, nays 24, adopted. H.J. 1003 .
Apr 22, 2026House
Placed on Ways and Means calendar. H.J. 987 .
Apr 21, 2026House
Committee vote: Yeas, 24. Nays, 0. Excused, 1. H.J. 987 .
Apr 21, 2026House
Committee report, recommending passage. H.J. 987 .
Mar 11, 2026Iowa Legislature
Subcommittee recommends passage.
Mar 9, 2026House
Subcommittee Meeting: 03/11/2026 12:00PM House Lounge 2.
Jan 29, 2026House
Subcommittee: Wulf, Gjerde and Hermanson. H.J. 178 .
Jan 13, 2026HouseIntroduced
Read first time, referred to Ways and Means. H.J. 45 .
Dec 31, 2025Iowa Legislature
* * * * * END OF 2025 ACTIONS * * * * *
May 14, 2025House
Message from Senate. H.J. 1204 .
May 14, 2025Senate
Immediate message. S.J. 1028 .
May 14, 2025SenateFloor
Passed Senate , yeas 45, nays 0. S.J. 1026 .
May 9, 2025Senate
Committee report, approving bill. S.J. 956 .
May 9, 2025SenateIntroduced
Introduced, placed on Ways and Means calendar. S.J. 954 .
May 9, 2025Senate
Committee report approving bill, renumbered as SF 654 . S.J. 956 .
Mar 12, 2025Iowa Legislature
Subcommittee recommends passage.
Mar 12, 2025Senate
Subcommittee Meeting: 03/12/2025 12:30PM Senate Lounge.
Mar 11, 2025Senate
Subcommittee reassigned: Sweeney, Bisignano, and Green. S.J. 491 .
Feb 19, 2025Senate
Subcommittee: Sweeney, Celsi, and Green. S.J. 314 .
Feb 17, 2025SenateCommittee
Referred to Ways and Means. S.J. 275 .
Feb 11, 2025Senate
Committee report, approving bill. S.J. 246 .
Feb 11, 2025SenateIntroduced
Introduced, placed on calendar. S.J. 239 .
Feb 10, 2025Iowa Legislature
Committee report approving bill, renumbered as SF 260 .
Feb 5, 2025Iowa Legislature
Subcommittee recommends passage.
Feb 4, 2025Senate
Subcommittee Meeting: 02/05/2025 1:30PM Senate Lounge.
Feb 4, 2025Iowa Legislature
Subcommittee: Sweeney, Celsi, and Zumbach.
Feb 4, 2025Iowa LegislatureIntroduced
Introduced, referred to Natural Resources and Environment.

Version history

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Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

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