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HF 2775

A bill for an act relating to a convenience fee for recording applications for the registration of a snowmobile, all-terrain vehicle, or vessel in a county by a person who is not a resident of the county.

2025-2026 Regular Session

Allows counties to charge nonresidents a convenience fee up to $10 for registering snowmobiles, ATVs, vessels, or recording instruments to fund records management.

Subcommittee: Green, Driscoll, and Townsend.
#countygovernment #countyrecorders #fees #nonresidents #publicrecords
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HF 2775

Summary of HF 2775 (2025-2026) — Iowa

Purpose and intent

HF 2775 proposes allowing county recorders to assess a convenience fee for filing or recording certain instruments and registrations when the applicant is not a resident of the county. The bill applies to registration of snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and vessels, and to the recording of instruments in the county recorder’s office. The goal is to provide county-recording offices with additional revenue to support records management, with a cap on the fee.

Key provisions and changes

  • Snowmobiles (Section 1):

    • Snowmobile owners register through the county recorder of residence.
    • Standard registration requirements include a $30 registration fee (plus a writing fee as per existing statute) and proof that sales/use tax has been paid or exemption shown.
    • The county recorder may add a convenience fee under proposed §331.604, subsection 1, paragraph "b".
    • Expired registrations from another state can be renewed with payment of all applicable fees and a $5 penalty.

  • ATVs (Section 2):

    • ATV owners register through the county recorder of the county of residence, or for nonresidents, the county of primary use.
    • Standard registration requires a $15 fee plus a writing fee (per §321I.29) and proof of tax payment or exemption.
    • The county recorder may add a convenience fee as described above.
    • Expired out-of-state registrations may be renewed with applicable fees and a $5 penalty.

  • Convenience fee framework (Section 3):

    • The county recorder may impose a convenience fee of up to $10 for filing or recording an instrument for a nonresident county user.
    • The fee applies to filings or recordings of instruments and to transactions that involve more than one transaction per page.
    • Revenue from the convenience fee goes into the county recorder’s records management fund and may be used for purposes described in the statute.

  • Vessel registration (Section 4):

    • Similar framework allowing convenience fees for vessel registrations, consistent with existing procedures and writing fees.
    • Requires proof of ownership (bill of sale, receipt, etc.) and maintains electronic records of certificates.

Who would be affected

  • Nonresident applicants for snowmobile, ATV, and vessel registrations, and for recording instruments in county recorders’ offices.
  • County recorders would administer and collect the convenience fees.
  • Property tax/records management funds would receive the convenience fee revenue, earmarked for records management-related purposes.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • The bill amends sections of the Iowa Code governing vehicle and vessel registrations and recording fees, introducing a new optional convenience fee cap and process.
  • The maximum convenience fee per instrument or filing is $10.
  • Revenue from the fee is dedicated to the county recorder’s records management fund, rather than to general funds.
  • The bill is introduced and referred to Ways and Means, with an action history indicating consideration in the 2025-2026 session.

How this would operate in practice

  • A nonresident seeking registration (snowmobile, ATV, or vessel) or recording an instrument in a county recorder’s office may be charged an additional convenience fee up to $10, provided the county elects to impose it.
  • Tax payment proof remains a prerequisite for registration.
  • The policy aims to offset costs associated with processing records for nonresidents, with funds dedicated to records management needs.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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