Environment

in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 26, 2026

SF 2104: A bill for an act relating to water usage reporting requirements for large water use facilities.

SF 2104 requires large water use facilities in Iowa to report annual water usage to the Department of Natural Resources. It specifically targets facilities using 25,000+ gallons per day primarily engaged in data processing (NAICS 518210), ethyl alcohol manufacturing (NAICS 325193), or cryptocurrency mining. Each covered facility must submit detailed water usage reports by March 31 each year. The bill establishes a straightforward reporting obligation without altering water usage limits or imposing new restrictions.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequiring water usage reporting for high-consumption facilities aids natural resource management and conservation, aligning with environmental protection goals.85% confidence

Track

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 18, 2025

SF 299: A bill for an act establishing the Iowa carbon dioxide disaster relief fund, creating an excise tax, and making appropriations.

This bill creates the Iowa Carbon Dioxide Disaster Relief Fund to provide immediate response and long-term recovery for communities affected by CO2 pipeline incidents, such as leaks or ruptures. It imposes a tax on CO2 pipeline operators and facilities to fund the relief efforts, requiring a minimum $10 billion balance in the fund before pipelines can operate in Iowa. The fund will cover emergency cleanup, victim compensation, rebuilding, and environmental restoration. Two oversight boards - the Oversight Board (managing fund integrity) and Victim Assistance Board (distributing aid) - will administer the fund and ensure resources reach affected individuals and communities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates excise tax on CO2 pipelines to fund disaster relief, directly establishing new tax revenue and appropriations for essential services.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill creates fund for environmental restoration after CO2 pipeline incidents, requiring tax on operators to cover cleanup and victim compensation, directly addressing pollution and environmental protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Natural Disasters

Track

in committee · Iowa · House May 5, 2025

HSB 334: A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations from the rebuild Iowa infrastructure fund and technology reinvestment fund, providing for related matters including county payment for district court furnishings, and including effective date provisions.

HSB 334 is an appropriations bill that allocates funds from the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund and Technology Reinvestment Fund for various state projects and initiatives. It provides funding for maintenance at state facilities like the State Historical Building and Terrace Hill, as well as building repairs for the Department for the Blind and facility renovations for the Department of Corrections. The bill also directs significant funding towards the Water Quality Initiative for demonstration projects and education, and the Renewable Fuel Infrastructure Fund for related programs. These appropriations aim to support infrastructure improvements, environmental conservation efforts, and economic development projects across the state.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds Department of Corrections facility renovations, directly supporting correctional infrastructure within criminal justice system.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill allocates significant funding to Water Quality Initiative for demonstration, directly advancing environmental protection through water resource management.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill allocates funds from Technology Reinvestment Fund, directly supporting tech initiatives per fund name and purpose.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

Track

in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 19, 2025

SF 428: A bill for an act creating a muskellunge fishing fee.

This bill creates a mandatory fee for anglers in Iowa who wish to fish for or keep muskellunge (a type of large fish). Anyone needing a standard fishing license must pay this fee to legally catch or possess muskellunge. The money collected will fund the state's muskellunge conservation program, managed by the natural resource commission. An exception allows free fishing during community events where muskellunge are stocked in non-designated waters, but only if the commission grants a special permit for the event. Violating the fee requirement carries a $1,000 penalty per fish.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates fees to fund muskellunge conservation program, directly advancing natural resource protection through dedicated funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

Track

introduced · Iowa · Legislature

1411XD: Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Omnibus (1411XD) - Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Department of

This bill (1411XD) clarifies definitions and regulations for Iowa's agricultural sector under the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. It specifically defines "agricultural land" (including land used for crops, livestock, or environmental protection), establishes labeling requirements for commercial fertilizers and beneficial substances, and sets standards for laboratory analysis evidence in disputes. The bill directly affects farmers, fertilizer producers, and distributors by standardizing terms like "anhydrous ammonia," "bulk fertilizer," and "guaranteed analysis" for labeling and compliance. Key provisions include requiring precise nutrient percentage disclosures on fertilizer labels and allowing state lab results to be used as evidence in legal proceedings. It does not create new programs or funding but refines existing regulatory language.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly includes 'environmental protection' in agricultural land definition and establishes fertilizer labeling to potentially reduce pollution, aligning with environmental protection measures.80% confidence

Tags Agriculture

Track

in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 31, 2025

SF 585: A bill for an act relating to energy systems by modifying electric power generation, energy storage, and transmission facility ratemaking principles, creating tariffs for public utility innovation programs, implementing land restoration standards, including right of first refusal, modifying the energy infrastructure revolving loan program, and creating regulations for anaerobic digester systems, making appropriations, providing penalties, and including effective date and applicability provisions.

SF 585 modifies how Iowa utilities calculate rates for large-scale energy projects. It establishes new ratemaking rules for electric power generation, energy storage, and transmission facilities over 340 megawatts, including projects that convert coal plants to gas, add carbon capture, or repower existing facilities. The bill explicitly encourages development of nuclear power and innovation programs, creating new tariffs for utility-led projects and setting land restoration standards. It also updates loan programs for energy infrastructure and adds regulations for anaerobic digester systems, affecting utilities planning major facility investments in Iowa.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyExplicitly encourages nuclear power, innovation programs, and renewable infrastructure (anaerobic digesters) via new tariffs, funding, and modified ratemaking for clean energy projects.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEncourages nuclear power (clean energy), establishes land restoration standards, and regulates anaerobic digesters for waste-to-energy, aligning with conservation and emissions reduction goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Coal Energy Storage Utility Regulation

Track

in committee · Iowa · Senate May 6, 2025

SSB 1238: A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations from the rebuild Iowa infrastructure fund and technology reinvestment fund, providing for related matters including county payment for district court furnishings, establishing the Iowa major events and tourism program and fund, and eliminating the sports tourism marketing program and fund, and including effective date provisions.

This bill allocates funds from the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund and the Technology Reinvestment Fund to various state entities for the fiscal year 2025-2026 and beyond. It directs appropriations for projects such as state building maintenance and demolition, water quality initiatives, renewable fuel infrastructure, and community attraction and tourism programs. The bill also establishes the Iowa Major Events and Tourism Program and Fund, while eliminating the Sports Tourism Marketing Program and Fund. Additionally, it includes provisions for county payments related to district court furnishings.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates funds from existing state funds for infrastructure, water quality, and tourism programs, advancing public service funding without tax changes.90% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill allocates funds for renewable fuel infrastructure via Technology Reinvestment Fund, directly advancing renewable energy development.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAllocates funds for water quality initiatives and renewable fuel infrastructure, directly advancing environmental protection and clean energy projects.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

Track

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SF 97: A bill for an act designating the acquisition of certain vehicles or vehicle equipment as a general county purpose.

SF 97 amends Iowa law to expand the definition of "general county purpose" to include purchasing vehicles or vehicle equipment for specific county departments: sheriff's offices, county attorneys, jails, maintenance, conservation, and public health. This change means counties can acquire these vehicles without needing voter approval for bond issuance, which is typically required for general county purposes. The bill directly affects county governments by simplifying funding for essential equipment across multiple departments. It makes no other policy changes beyond this specific administrative adjustment to bond authorization rules.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRemoves voter approval barrier for county vehicle purchases, promoting efficient fiscal management of local government spending without increasing state taxes or altering appropriations.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly includes 'conservation' as a department eligible for vehicle funding without voter approval, enabling operational support for environmental conservation efforts.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Debt & Bonds Procurement

Track

in committee · Iowa · House Mar 30, 2026

HF 797: A bill for an act relating to national wild turkey federation special registration plates, providing fees, and making appropriations.

HF 797 creates special "National Wild Turkey Federation" license plates for Iowa vehicle owners. To obtain these plates, applicants pay a one-time $25 fee for standard letter-number plates (or $50 total for personalized plates), plus an annual $10 fee on top of regular registration. All fees collected are directed to the state's general fund and then allocated to the Department of Natural Resources to provide grants specifically for wild turkey habitat conservation and hunting programs. Priority for these grants goes to Iowa chapters of nonprofits focused on wild turkey conservation and increasing hunter participation. The bill ensures the Department of Transportation cannot require a minimum number of plate orders before issuing the special plates.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates new fees ($25 one-time + $10 annual) to fund turkey habitat conservation via DNR, directly allocating revenue to a specific program within state budget.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill directs $25/$50 fees to DNR for wild turkey habitat conservation grants, explicitly funding environmental protection through habitat conservation programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Conservation

Track

introduced · Iowa · Legislature

1456DP: Hazardous Waste, Administrative Costs (1456DP) - Natural Resources, Department of

This bill (1456DP) makes businesses or individuals who control hazardous substances strictly liable for reasonable costs the state or local governments incur to respond to, oversee, and monitor hazardous conditions they created. It expands current law by requiring these parties to cover "reasonable costs" (not just "excessive and extraordinary costs") for state actions like scene response and ongoing monitoring. The key change is broadening the financial responsibility to include all necessary state oversight and monitoring expenses related to hazardous conditions caused by the liable party. This directly affects entities handling hazardous materials, shifting the cost burden from taxpayers to the source of the hazard.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires polluters to cover state costs for hazardous waste response/monitoring, strengthening environmental accountability and remediation efforts.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Hazardous Materials

Track