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SF 426 Iowa Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

A bill for an act relating to strict liability for a person in control of hazardous substances.

This bill amends Iowa law to require strict liability for individuals or entities in control of hazardous substances. It specifically holds them financially responsible for "excessive and extraordinary" costs incurred by the state or local governments during oversight and monitoring of hazardous conditions they caused. The new provision directly affects businesses and individuals handling hazardous materials, as they may now face additional financial obligations beyond typical cleanup costs. This change focuses solely on monitoring and oversight expenses, not remediation or cleanup costs, which remain governed by existing law.
Issues: ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires strict liability for hazardous substance handlers, mandating financial responsibility for environmental cleanup costs, strengthening pollution control and waste management regulations.90% confidence
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 25, 2025 Last action May 15, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Reprinted · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was reprinted after being passed by the Senate on April 22, 2025. The main substantive change is that the bill now specifies 'excessive and extraordinary' costs rather than just 'reasonable' costs for state oversight and monitoring of hazardous conditions. This narrows the financial liability that individuals controlling hazardous substances would face.
Scope change
The bill's scope was narrowed by changing the cost threshold from 'reasonable' to 'excessive and extraordinary' costs, which means state officials can only recover costs that go beyond normal or expected expenses.
FISCAL

Changed the cost threshold for state recovery from 'reasonable costs' to 'excessive and extraordinary costs', limiting how much money the state can recover from individuals responsible for hazardous conditions.

TECHNICAL

Added Senate passage date (April 22, 2025) and updated bill numbering to reflect it has been reprinted after Senate action.

Removed the original 'Introduced' status and replaced with 'Reprinted' status showing the bill has moved through the legislative process.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 22, 2025

How they voted

45–0
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 49
Apr 22, 2025
D Democratic16
13 Yea 3
81% Yea
R Republican33
32 Yea 1
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
9
Key actions
2
Committee
2
Amendments
1
May 15, 2025
Committee
Rereferred to Natural Resources.
lower
Apr 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate, yeas 46, nays 0.
upper
Apr 22, 2025
Introduced
Amendment S-3120 filed, adopted.
upper
Feb 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report, approving bill.
upper
Feb 25, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, placed on calendar.
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.