Bill

HF 599

A bill for an act relating to regional representation and residency requirements for members of the state transportation commission, and including effective date and applicability provisions.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Tom Determann

Residency-based rules require STC members to live in their assigned region or resign, with vacancies filled per existing procedures.

Withdrawn.

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Bill Summary · HF 599

Summary of HF 599 (2025)

A bill relating to regional representation and residency requirements for members of the state transportation commission, including effective date and applicability provisions. Status: Withdrawn.

Purpose and intent

To update how regional representation is assigned to members of the state transportation commission (STC) and to establish residency-based resignation rules.
The bill aims to ensure that commissioners continue to reside within their designated region and to align future appointments with a fixed regional sequencing.

Key provisions

Residency requirement and vacancy rule (Sec. 2)

New Section 307A.9 establishes a residency-based rule for commission members representing a region.
If a member appointed to represent a region no longer resides in that region, they are deemed to have resigned from the commission.
The vacancy is filled in accordance with Section 307A.4 (the existing process for filling vacancies).

Regional composition (Region 7 specification)

The bill specifies Region 7, listing the counties that compose it: Adams, Appanoose, Clarke, Davis, Decatur, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lucas, Monroe, Montgomery, Page, Ringgold, Taylor, Union, Van Buren, Wapello, Washington, and Wayne.

Applicability and transition (Sec. 4)

The act applies to members appointed and confirmed on or after the effective date of the act.
A sequential regional representation scheme is established for new appointments made after the effective date:
- First regular term appointment after the effective date represents Region 1.
- Second represents Region 2.
- Third represents Region 3.
- Fourth represents Region 4.
- Fifth represents Region 5.
- Sixth represents Region 6.
- Seventh represents Region 7.

Effective date (Sec. 3)

The act is deemed to take effect immediately upon enactment.

Regional representation details

Region 7 (as defined for the bill) consists of the following counties: Adams, Appanoose, Clarke, Davis, Decatur, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lucas, Monroe, Montgomery, Page, Ringgold, Taylor, Union, Van Buren, Wapello, Washington, Wayne.

Current law context (Explanatory notes)

The existing framework charges the STC with developing, coordinating, and annually updating a comprehensive transportation policy and plan for the state.
The new residency-based rule interacts with the current vacancy process (307A.4) and 307A.1A, sub. 1 to ensure alignment between a commissioner’s region and residency status.

Legislative actions and timeline

2025-02-25: Introduced and referred to Transportation.
2025-02-26: Subcommittee meeting; subcommittee members: Determann, Madison, and Young.
2025-02-27: Subcommittee recommends passage.
2025-03-05: Committee reports; passes committee with a voice vote (Yeas 20, Nays 0, Excused 1). The bill was renumbered as HF 848 at this time.
2025-03-07: Committee report indicates renumbering to HF 848.
2025-03-21: Status updated to Withdrawn.

Impact and considerations

Aims to preserve region-based representation on the STC by tying residency to continued service and providing a clear process to fill vacancies when a representative no longer resides in their region.
Creates a defined transition plan for new appointees (post-effective date) to ensure region alignment from the outset of appointments.
Because the bill was withdrawn, these provisions did not become law, but they reflect a potential policy direction for regional governance of the transportation commission.

If you’d like, I can map out how a hypothetical appointment cycle would work under the new regional sequencing or compare HF 599’s approach with current practice.

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