Bill Text: IA HJR7 | 2017-2018 | 87th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa allowing the general assembly to provide for the reorganization of counties.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-02-24 - Passed subcommittee. [HJR7 Detail]

Download: Iowa-2017-HJR7-Introduced.html

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House Joint Resolution 7 - Introduced




                                 HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION       
                                 BY  HIGHFILL

                                      HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

  1 A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution
  2    of the State of Iowa allowing the general assembly to
  3    provide for the reorganization of counties.
  4 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
    TLSB 2268YH (2) 87
    aw/rj

PAG LIN



  1  1    Section 1.  The following amendment to the Constitution of
  1  2 the State of Iowa is proposed:
  1  3    1.  Section 30 of Article III of the Constitution of the
  1  4 State of Iowa is repealed and the following adopted in lieu
  1  5 thereof:
  1  6 Local or special laws == general and uniform == boundaries of
  1  7 counties.SEC. 30.  The general assembly shall not pass local
  1  8 or special laws in the following cases:
  1  9    For the assessment and collection of taxes for state, county,
  1 10 or road purposes;
  1 11    For laying out, opening, and working roads or highways;
  1 12    For changing the names of persons;
  1 13    For the incorporation of cities and towns;
  1 14    For vacating roads, town plats, streets, alleys, or public
  1 15 squares;
  1 16    For locating or changing county seats, except when located or
  1 17 changed coincident to the reorganization of counties.
  1 18    In all the cases above enumerated, and, in all other cases,
  1 19 except for laws enacted pursuant to Article XI, section 2,
  1 20 where a general law can be made applicable, all laws shall be
  1 21 general, and of uniform operation throughout the state.
  1 22    2.  Section 2 of Article XI of the Constitution of the State
  1 23 of Iowa is repealed beginning with the second Monday in January
  1 24 2021 and the following adopted in lieu thereof:
  1 25 Counties.SEC. 2.  The general assembly may by law provide
  1 26 for the direct or procedural reorganization of counties.
  1 27    3.  Section 8 of Article XI of the Constitution of the State
  1 28 of Iowa is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof:
  1 29 Seat of government established ==== state university.SEC.
  1 30    8.  The seat of government is hereby permanently established,
  1 31 as now fixed by law, at the city of Des Moines; and the state
  1 32 university, at Iowa City.
  1 33    Sec. 2.  REFERRAL AND PUBLICATION.  The foregoing proposed
  1 34 amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa is referred
  1 35 to the general assembly to be chosen at the next general
  2  1 election for members of the general assembly, and the secretary
  2  2 of state is directed to cause the proposed amendment to be
  2  3 published for three consecutive months previous to the date of
  2  4 that election as provided by law.
  2  5                           EXPLANATION
  2  6 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
  2  7 the explanation's substance by the members of the general assembly.
  2  8    This joint resolution proposes an amendment to the
  2  9 Constitution of the State of Iowa allowing the general assembly
  2 10 to enact legislation for the reorganization of counties
  2 11 beginning in January 2021. The proposed amendment also
  2 12 allows that general assembly to locate and change county seats
  2 13 coincident to the reorganization of counties.
  2 14    The proposed amendment repeals provisions requiring that no
  2 15 new county shall be created containing less than 432 square
  2 16 miles and that the territory of certain counties not be reduced
  2 17 below that area. The proposed amendment maintains current
  2 18 constitutional requirements that the seat of government and the
  2 19 state university be permanently established in Des Moines and
  2 20 Iowa City, respectively, but removes reference to the counties
  2 21 in which those cities are currently located.
  2 22    The resolution, if adopted, would be referred to the next
  2 23 general assembly for adoption before being submitted to the
  2 24 electorate for ratification.
       LSB 2268YH (2) 87
       aw/rj