A bill for an act relating to restrictions on the acquisition of real property by the department of natural resources.

SSB 1198 restricts Iowa's Department of Natural Resources (DNR) from acquiring real property at public auctions or from nonprofits that bought property at auctions. The bill requires DNR to only purchase property from willing donors or sellers (without pressure) and prohibits paying more than appraised value to nonprofits that acquired land at auctions. However, it allows DNR to bypass these rules if acquiring property for approved local or statewide conservation or recreation plans, subject to commission approval. This bill directly affects how the DNR purchases land for state parks and conservation projects.