Environment

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SF 2193: A bill for an act requiring a water treatment plant to conduct a test of sewage sludge to detect the presence of a perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance.

This bill requires Iowa wastewater treatment plants to test sewage sludge for perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) before applying it to farmland. If PFAS is detected, the plant must notify the landowner in writing, who can then refuse the sludge without legal consequences. The law directly affects wastewater treatment facilities and landowners using sludge for agricultural purposes. It creates a mandatory testing step and notification process to address potential PFAS contamination in soil.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires PFAS testing in sewage sludge to prevent environmental contamination, directly addressing pollution control per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Water Quality

Track

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SF 2305: A bill for an act regulating the application of manure originating from an animal feeding operation, and making penalties applicable.

This bill regulates how manure from animal feeding operations (including both confinement operations storing liquid manure and open feedlots) can be applied to land. It requires manure to be injected or incorporated into soil within 24 hours of surface application, prohibits application on saturated, snow-covered, or frozen ground except during specific emergencies, and bans spray irrigation without dilution rules. During emergencies (like storage failures), operators must follow pre-approved protocols, contact the department, apply only on land with low phosphorus risk, and block drain tiles for two weeks. These rules directly affect farmers and ranchers operating animal feeding facilities in Iowa who manage manure application.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRegulates manure application to prevent runoff and water pollution, strengthening environmental protections.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 2, 2026

SF 2433: A bill for an act relating to the national electrical code, and including effective date provisions.

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.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyAdopts IECC energy conservation code for buildings, mandates efficiency disclosures for homes, directly advancing energy efficiency standards per bill summary.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAdopts IECC 2009 and mandates 2024 energy standards for homes, promoting energy efficiency and reducing emissions through building code requirements.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Efficiency Conservation

Track

passed · Iowa · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SF 2375: A bill for an act relating to fire fighting foam purchased by government entities.

This bill requires Iowa's Department of Administrative Services to create a master contract for government entities to purchase fire fighting foam made primarily from soybean-based materials, excluding harmful chemicals like PFAS (perfluoroalkyl substances). It directly affects all state agencies and local governments that buy fire fighting foam, mandating they use this specific contract unless an exception applies. Local governments with fire departments must decide by January 1, 2027, whether to adopt the soybean-based foam through a new ordinance. The policy shifts procurement away from foam containing toxic fluorinated chemicals, prioritizing safer alternatives.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBans PFAS (toxic chemicals) in fire foam, reducing environmental pollution and protecting ecosystems from persistent pollutants.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water

Track

passed · Iowa · House Mar 18, 2026

HF 2640: A bill for an act prohibiting the intentional emission of air contaminants into the atmosphere, and providing penalties.

HF 2640 prohibits intentionally emitting chemicals or devices into the atmosphere within Iowa for the purpose of altering weather, climate, or sunlight intensity. It requires all Iowa airports open to the public to report monthly (starting October 2026) on aircraft equipped with such devices, including their presence, landings, takeoffs, or refueling. Non-compliant airport projects lose eligibility for state funding, and violations are punishable as class D felonies (up to 5 years in prison) for individuals or $100,000 civil penalties for corporate officers. This bill directly affects airport operators, aviation entities, and any organization using weather-modification technology within Iowa.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentProhibits intentional emissions altering climate/weather, requires airport reporting, and imposes felony penalties - directly protecting environment from atmospheric manipulation.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 10, 2026

HF 2367: A bill for an act relating to unit owners associations and native vegetation.

HF 2367 prevents homeowners' associations in Iowa from banning unit owners from planting native vegetation (like Iowa's indigenous grasses, flowers, shrubs, and trees) on their personal lawns, provided the area is kept free of weeds, invasive species, and trash, and the plants don't extend onto public areas, neighboring properties, or interfere with traffic or utilities. Associations may still set reasonable rules for planned native vegetation landscapes, but cannot impose height restrictions that hinder proper maintenance. The bill applies only to individual unit owners' lawns, not common areas or properties where owners lack landscaping authority.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly protects native vegetation use for conservation, preventing HOA bans on indigenous plants while requiring weed/invasive species control, directly advancing environmental conservation.92% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill protects property rights (a housing topic component) by preventing HOAs from banning native vegetation planting on personal lawns within residential properties.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Waste Management

Track

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 10, 2026

HF 2374: A bill for an act relating to Iowa’s delta waterfowl special registration plates, providing fees, and making appropriations.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new vehicle registration fees to fund state conservation grants, directly allocating revenue to a government program per bill's funding mechanism.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds delta waterfowl habitat conservation via license plate fees, directly supporting environmental protection efforts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

Track

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SF 2262: A bill for an act relating to the regulation of confinement feeding operations, including by providing for partially roofed structures and prohibiting the construction, including expansion, of structures, making penalties applicable, and including effective date provisions.

SF 2262 prohibits the construction or expansion of confinement feeding operation structures (including partially roofed facilities) in Iowa, affecting large-scale livestock operations. It includes exceptions for small animal feeding operations and ongoing projects begun before the bill's effective date. The moratorium ends 30 days after the Iowa Department of Natural Resources publishes a notice confirming fewer than 100 impaired water bodies on the state's official list. The bill takes immediate effect upon enactment.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill prohibits construction/expansion of livestock operations to protect water quality, directly addressing impaired water bodies through regulatory restrictions on pollution sources.92% confidence

Track

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 17, 2026

HSB 736: A bill for an act relating to the treatment of private sewage disposal systems, including monitoring, maintenance, and reporting requirements, and including applicability provisions.

This bill requires owners of private sewage systems (serving up to four homes or 16 people) to hire certified technicians for ongoing maintenance and inspections, with annual checks for Class A systems (media-based filters like peat moss) and biannual checks for Class B systems (mechanical systems). It mandates that all inspections be reported to county sanitarians, who will compile results into a public database (excluding personal details). Systems must follow manufacturer specifications, and Class A systems are preferred over Class B for most sites due to lower maintenance needs. The law applies to systems installed after July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates regular inspections/maintenance of sewage systems to prevent water pollution, aligning with pollution control and environmental protection standards.92% confidence

Track

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 16, 2026

HF 2445: A bill for an act providing for a manure management planning map.

HF 2445 requires Iowa's Department of Natural Resources to create and publish an interactive digital map showing areas vulnerable to manure pollution from animal feeding operations (AFOs). The map identifies risks based on terrain, weather patterns, and proximity to water sources like rivers or wells. Farmers applying manure from AFOs must verify they consulted this map before application, as part of their required manure management or nutrient management plans. This affects all AFO operators, including those with confinement feeding operations and open feedlots, by adding a mandatory step to reduce runoff risks. The map is designed to help farmers apply manure more efficiently while protecting water quality.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires farmers to consult pollution risk map before manure application, reducing water contamination risks from AFOs per bill's mandate.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

Track