House File 89 creates protections for black bears in Iowa. There are currently no protections for this species in our state! The bill designates black bears as game animals and “prohibits a person from willfully disturbing, pursuing, shooting, killing, taking or attempting to take, or having in possession a black bear outside of an open season established by the natural resource commission. The commission may allow for the hunting of black bears subject to limitations the commission imposes.”
The proposed penalty for anyone convicted of the above actions outside of the established open season is $2,500 in civil damages. In addition, the illegally harvested animal is subject to seizure by the Department of Natural Resources.
The bill has passed subcommittee and committee with amendments. The amendment designates more responsibility to the Natural Resources Commission to regulate the open hunting season for black bears.
The summary of these three bills are just a glimpse of all that has been happening here at the State Capitol! As always, feel free to contact me with questions, concerns, and comments.
It may sound like all we are doing is talking about coon and bears at the capitol, but I assure you, there have been MANY other conversations regarding two of the greatest hot topics this session, the carbon pipeline and medical malpractice reform. A slew of bills has been proposed in both the senate and house in opposition to the pipeline. Because so many property owners are affected by the carbon pipeline, I am following it extremely close and want to assure you that I stand with property owners and their constitutional rights and oppose imminent domain for private companies. I will include more information on these topics in future newsletters.
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