DES MOINES, Iowa [KCCI] — A bill moving forward in the Iowa Statehouse limits how the Iowa Department of Natural Resources can purchase land to expand or create public lands. Iowa has 35.7 million acres of land, but only 3% is public, making Iowa second-to-last in the nation for publicly-accessible land.

The bill would restrict the DNR from purchasing land at a public auction. The DNR would still be able to buy land from private sellers and accept land donations.

The bill advanced out of an Iowa House subcommittee on Tuesday and will now head to committee. It will need to pass through the House to make it past Friday’s funnel.