Environment

This Iowa bill extends the expiration date for the biodiesel blended fuel tax credit from January 1, 2028, to January 1, 2033. The change directly affects retail dealers who sell biodiesel fuel blends, allowing them to continue claiming a state income tax credit for promoting these fuels. By updating the relevant tax code sections, the legislation ensures that dealers whose tax years do not align with the original repeal date can still claim the credit for a full calendar year. The bill also clarifies how the credit amount should be calculated for dealers claiming it in the year following the extension period.

This Iowa bill modifies the state tax refund program specifically for biodiesel producers. The legislation increases the refund rate from four cents to five cents per gallon of biodiesel produced within the state. It also extends the expiration date for this tax benefit from January 1, 2028, to January 1, 2031. These adjustments apply to the total number of gallons produced by eligible producers during each quarter of a calendar year.

HF 2642 (Iowa) creates new rules for disposing liquid waste from native distilleries and changes water permit processes. It requires the Department of Natural Resources to establish standards for land application of distillery waste, considering waste volume, disposal method, and per-acre daily rates. The bill removes a categorical definition of "beneficial use" for water permits and instead mandates case-by-case department reviews for permit approvals, with strict 90-day (new) and 30-day (renewal) processing deadlines. This directly affects Iowa distilleries holding class "A" native distilled spirits licenses. The law aims to standardize waste disposal while shifting water permit decisions from category-based rules to individual assessments.

HF 2511 requires Iowa's Flood Center to develop a statewide resilience plan by December 2028, coordinating with state agencies like Homeland Security, Agriculture, and Natural Resources. The plan must include a risk assessment for flooding and water supply changes, an inventory of critical infrastructure (like hospitals, roads, and water systems), and a method to prioritize resilience projects. It directly affects state agencies responsible for implementing the plan and local communities by guiding how state funds address flood risks and natural hazards. The bill mandates biennial progress reports to the governor and legislature to track implementation of the plan's recommendations.

HF 548 requires businesses recycling battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in Iowa to complete a DOT-approved safety training program for handling high-voltage batteries, starting January 1, 2027. This applies to all authorized vehicle recyclers who dismantle or process these vehicles, mandating they display a program completion certificate alongside their license. The law establishes penalties for non-compliance, treating violations as a serious misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and fines up to $2,560. The bill focuses on safety standards for handling electric vehicle batteries during recycling, without altering existing licensing requirements for general vehicle recycling.