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SF 427

Background checks on certain recipients of money appropriated from the environment and natural resources trust fund that work with children requirement provision

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Cal Bahr

SF 427 requires an Iowa-law exam for professional land surveyors and ends temporary licenses, raising standards and delaying some temporary practice in Iowa.

Chief author added Bahr
#childrenandfamiliesandchildren #youthandfamiliesdepartment #environment #naturalresourcesandnaturalresourcesdepartment
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Bill Summary · SF 427

Summary — SF 427 (2025): Professional Land Surveyor Licensure

Main purpose

SF 427 amends Iowa law governing licensure of professional land surveyors to (1) require applicants to pass an examination specific to Iowa law and (2) prohibit the issuance of temporary licenses to practice as a professional land surveyor.

Key provisions

  • Adds a new subparagraph to Iowa Code section 542B.14(1)(b):
    • New subparagraph (5): an applicant must successfully pass an examination specific to the laws of Iowa.
  • Adds a new subsection to section 542B.14:
    • New subsection 3: notwithstanding Iowa Code section 272C.12(3)(c), the Engineering and Land Surveying Examining Board shall not issue a temporary license to practice as a professional land surveyor.

Who is affected

  • Primary: applicants for licensure as professional land surveyors in Iowa (including recent graduates, exam candidates, and certain applicants by comity/reciprocity).
  • Regulatory body: the Engineering and Land Surveying Examining Board, which must incorporate and administer the state-law-specific exam and cease issuing temporary surveyor licenses.
  • Employers and public entities that hire or rely on temporary-licensed surveyors may be affected by reduced availability of temporary practitioners.
  • Potentially affects out-of-state licensees seeking to practice temporarily in Iowa.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • Introduced: February 25, 2025.
  • Senate passage: March 11, 2025 (yeas 47, nays 0).
  • House passage: April 15, 2025 (yeas 94, nays 0).
  • Enrolled and signed by the Governor: May 19, 2025 (approved and transmitted to Secretary of State).
  • Related/companion bill: HF 277.

Likely impacts and considerations

  • Raises licensure standards by requiring knowledge of Iowa-specific laws governing surveying.
  • Eliminates the temporary licensure pathway for surveyors, which may delay the ability of some applicants to begin practicing in Iowa and could affect project staffing in the short term.
  • The Board will need to develop or adopt a state-law examination and adjust licensing procedures to reflect the prohibition on temporary licenses.
  • The bill text does not specify implementation details or an effective date beyond the signature; implementation timing will follow standard state procedures unless otherwise provided.

This summary is an objective description of the enacted changes to Iowa Code sections cited in SF 427.

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

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