Iowa House Bill HF551

Iowa 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/2/23
• Refer: 5/4/23

Caption

A bill for an act relating to access to and use of the county land record information system.(Formerly HSB 164.)

Impact

The bill impacts Iowa state laws by allowing counties to establish policies governing access to land records, thus creating a framework for electronic access. It specifically authorizes counties to enter agreements for providing access to aggregated anonymous data, which could benefit various stakeholders, including state agencies. Moreover, the governing board of the county land record information system is tasked with setting necessary regulations for usage, including user authentication and limiting unauthorized access, potentially improving data security and privacy for users.

Summary

House File 551 is a legislative act that aims to amend the existing regulations surrounding the access and use of the county land record information system in Iowa. It seeks to simplify and expand the ability of counties to enter into agreements to provide access to electronic records, particularly concerning groundwater hazard documents. Under current law, counties are restricted from providing electronic access to their documents unless authorized by statute. This bill proposes to remove those barriers and allow broader access to these critical documents.

Contention

Notable points of contention relating to HF551 include concerns over data security and unauthorized access to sensitive land and groundwater information. Critics of the bill may worry that increasing access without adequate safeguards could lead to misuse of records. Additionally, the bill's provisions allow counties to collect fees, raising questions about potential financial impacts on users seeking access to necessary land records.