This bill appropriates state funds for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to support its operations, regulations, and specific programs for the fiscal year 2026-2027. It allocates money for various initiatives, including dairy regulation, local food programs, agricultural education, assistance for farmers with disabilities, and conservation efforts in the Loess Hills and Southern Iowa regions. The legislation also establishes reporting requirements for fund expenditures and designates specific amounts to university institutes and special funds for motor fuel inspection and foreign animal disease preparedness.
This bill establishes funding and programs to improve water quality in Iowa through agricultural best management practices, tax credits, and monitoring initiatives. It allocates approximately $28 million to support a water quality monitoring network and the water quality initiative, which will help farmers implement practices that reduce nutrient pollution in watersheds. The legislation creates a tax credit for agricultural operations that install eligible water quality practices and expands funding for the Iowa Clean Water Farm Program to encourage voluntary adoption of conservation measures. Additionally, the bill provides for water quality practices loans and establishes a cost-share program where the state may contribute up to 50 percent of the cost for eligible projects, while also supporting urban soil and water conservation efforts.
This bill authorizes the Iowa Department of Transportation to issue special registration plates for the National Wild Turkey Federation, allowing vehicle owners to display support for wild turkey conservation. The plates cost $25 for standard designs and $50 for personalized versions, with an additional $10 annual fee that goes toward funding wild turkey habitat conservation and hunting programs. Funds collected from these fees are transferred to the Department of Natural Resources, which must prioritize grants to nonprofit organizations working on wild turkey habitat improvement and hunter recruitment. The legislation also ensures that the Department of Transportation cannot limit plate availability based on order volume, making the program accessible to any eligible vehicle owner.
This bill allocates state funds from the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund and Technology Reinvestment Fund for fiscal year 2026-2027 to various departments and agencies. The appropriations include money for water quality demonstration projects on agricultural land, facility repairs at the Department for the Blind building, air conditioning installation at two correctional facilities, and grants for tourism, sports venues, and community development projects. The bill also designates specific amounts for updating agricultural nitrogen modeling systems and supports education and outreach programs related to environmental conservation practices.
HF 2460 requires Iowa's Department of Natural Resources and the Division of Soil Conservation and Water Quality (within the Department of Agriculture) to publish regular online reports on state-funded clean water projects. These reports must track progress toward water quality goals using data collected before, during, and after projects that monitor surface water for nutrient levels, runoff, or stormwater discharges. The reports, hosted on a joint agency website, must include benchmark measurements established to measure progress toward clean water objectives. This bill directly affects state agencies managing water quality programs funded by state money.
SF 2433 updates Iowa's electrical code framework by adopting the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), 2009 edition, as the "national energy code." It requires the electrical board to analyze cost impacts on new homes before adopting energy code changes, and mandates sellers of single-family homes built after January 1, 2027, to disclose in writing if the home doesn't meet the 2024 IECC standards. This bill directly affects homebuilders, electrical code administrators, and home sellers/buyers. The key mechanisms are the pre-adoption cost analysis and the new disclosure requirement for home sales. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027.
HF 2374 creates a special "Iowa’s delta waterfowl" vehicle registration plate, requiring an initial fee of $25 for standard plates and $50 for personalized plates (including a $25 personalization fee), plus annual fees of $10 for standard plates and $20 for personalized plates on top of regular registration fees. The collected fees are transferred to the Department of Natural Resources to fund grants for delta waterfowl habitat conservation and hunting initiatives, with priority given to state chapters of supporting nonprofit organizations. This bill does not require a minimum order for the plates and establishes a new funding stream for conservation through vehicle registration fees.
SF 2267 requires Iowa's Department of Natural Resources and the Division of Soil Conservation and Water Quality (within the Department of Agriculture) to publish online, regularly updated reports tracking progress on state-funded clean water projects. These reports must include water quality data collected before, during, and after projects, specifically for initiatives monitoring surface water to establish benchmarks for goals like reducing pollutants or runoff. The bill applies to any state-funded program measuring nutrient levels, stormwater, or runoff, making the data publicly accessible via a joint agency website. This focuses on transparency for projects already authorized under existing water quality laws, without creating new programs or mandates.
This bill proposes adding a new constitutional right to Iowa's constitution, guaranteeing every person access to clean water and air free from health-harming pollutants. It requires the state, acting as a trustee of natural resources, to conserve and restore public waters and air for current and future generations. The amendment is self-executing (taking effect immediately upon ratification) and mandates strict judicial review for any government action infringing on this right. It directly affects all Iowans and state agencies, fundamentally changing how environmental protections are legally enforced.
SF 2266 requires Iowa's Department of Natural Resources and the Division of Soil Conservation and Water Quality to publish disaggregated water quality data online, specifically showing contributions from nonpoint sources like agricultural runoff to designated water bodies. This affects agricultural landowners and operators near water sources, as the bill removes confidentiality protections for data identifying their operations that contribute to water quality issues. The key mechanism mandates agencies to break down aggregated monitoring data into detailed reports by water classification, updating these publicly on a shared website. This change makes previously confidential data about farm-related water pollution contributions publicly accessible.
