Iowa Senate Bill SF217

Iowa 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/7/23
• Refer: 2/9/23

Caption

A bill for an act allowing counties to collect a fee for the issuance and renewal of driver's licenses and nonoperator's identification cards to persons who reside outside the county.(Formerly SSB 1092.)

Impact

The implications of SF217 pertain to state laws governing how counties can manage fees associated with driving-related services. As it stands, counties authorized to issue these licenses retain a portion of the fees they collect. By introducing the convenience fee, the bill aims to facilitate administrative costs associated with serving non-residents. This change could potentially generate revenue for county general funds, thereby impacting the fiscal policies and budgeting of local governments.

Summary

Senate File 217 (SF217) seeks to introduce a new convenience fee structure related to the issuance and renewal of drivers licenses and nonoperator's identification cards specifically for individuals residing outside the issuing county. The proposed legislation allows counties that are authorized to issue these licenses to charge a ten-dollar convenience fee to non-residents. This fee would not apply to non-residents who can provide proof of property tax payment to the county, ensuring that those contributing to the county's financial base are exempt from the fee.

Contention

While the bill passed through the Senate Local Government Committee with unanimous support, discussions may arise regarding the fairness of charging non-residents for services that residents might access at a lower cost. Some legislators may express concerns about the implications this could have on transient populations or individuals who work across county lines but do not reside in the issuing county. Furthermore, the differentiation based on property tax payments might lead to complexities in determining eligibility for fee exemptions, potentially causing administrative challenges.