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HF 2773

A bill for an act relating to drainage or levee districts, by exempting an application fee that may be charged to certain persons applying for an easement to install fiber optic cable, and including effective date provisions.

2025-2026 Regular Session

HF 2773 eliminates administrative fees for certain fiber optic easement applications on district land, benefiting locally operated contractors and fiber network companies.

Introduced, placed on Ways and Means calendar.
#drainage #easements #fees #fiberopticnetworks #leveedistricts
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HF 2773

Summary of HF 2773 (Iowa) — 2025-2026 Session

Purpose and Intent

HF 2773 aims to exempt certain local, fiber optic-related easement applications from administrative fees charged by drainage or levee districts. The bill targets easement applications for installing fiber optic cable and other similar installations, ensuring that businesses primarily operating as local contractors or fiber optic network companies are not burdened by these administrative costs. It also authorizes districts to publish a list of which local entities will be exempt from fees.

Key Provisions

  • Exemption from Administrative Fees

    • The governing body of a drainage or levee district (e.g., county boards of supervisors or boards of trustees) may not charge an administrative fee for considering, approving, or disapproving an easement application to install fiber optic cable.
    • The exemption applies to applications submitted by a person whose business is primarily locally operated as a contractor or fiber optic network company.

  • Public Listing of Exempt Entities

    • The drainage district may prepare and publish a list identifying the local contractors and fiber optic network companies that will be exempt from the administrative fee.

  • Scope of Easements Covered

    • The bill references easements on, over, across, or beneath district land, including installations for pipelines, electric transmission lines, communication lines, underground service lines, or other similar installations (as per Code section 468.186(1)).

  • Effective Date

    • The act takes effect upon enactment, meaning immediate applicability once signed into law.

Who Is Affected

  • Directly Affected

    • Local drainage or levee districts (e.g., county boards of supervisors or boards of trustees) are prohibited from charging administrative fees for certain fiber optic easement applications.
    • Local contractors and fiber optic network companies that meet the bill’s criteria (primarily locally operated businesses) would qualify for fee exemptions.

  • Indirectly Affected

    • Projects involving fiber optic cable installation on district land, including related infrastructure (pipelines, electric lines, communications lines, underground service lines), could proceed with reduced upfront administrative costs.
    • Public-facing lists identifying exempt entities may affect procurement and contracting processes by providing clarity on eligible applicants.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Legislative Status

    • Introduced and placed on the Ways and Means calendar (April 15, 2026).

  • Effective Date

    • The act is deemed to take effect upon enactment, i.e., immediately after the governor signs it into law.

Practical Implications

  • Potential reduction in startup costs for local fiber optic deployment on district lands.
  • Encourages participation by local contractors and fiber network companies in easement projects.
  • Districts retain discretion to publish which entities are exempt, providing transparency for applicants.
  • Could streamline timelines for easement approvals by removing administrative fee barriers for qualifying entities.

If you’d like, I can provide a side-by-side comparison of present law vs. HF 2773 language, or a brief impact assessment for municipal planning departments.

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

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