Environment

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 12, 2026

HF 2417: A bill for an act relating to animal feeding operations by providing for certain air and water quality regulations, including when two or more related confinement feeding operations are deemed to be a single operation, making penalties applicable, and including effective date and applicability provisions.

This bill clarifies when multiple livestock feeding operations must be treated as a single entity for environmental regulations. It defines "related operations" as facilities within 2,500 feet sharing manure systems, roads, water wells, or property ownership under common management. Operations meeting these criteria must combine their size calculations for regulatory purposes, including compliance with distance requirements for expansion. The law specifically prevents expanding related operations without meeting applicable distance standards. It directly affects large-scale livestock farms operating multiple facilities under shared management or infrastructure.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill clarifies that related animal feeding operations must be treated as one entity for air/water quality regulations, preventing regulatory avoidance and strengthening environmental compliance through consolidated oversight.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 16, 2026

HSB 657: A bill for an act requiring the department of natural resources to identify specific animal sources of pollutants to a water of the state when determining the water’s inclusion on a list of impaired waters.

This bill requires Iowa's Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to identify specific animal sources (like livestock or wildlife) and assign percentage contributions to fecal bacteria pollution before adding a water body to the state's list of impaired waters. It mandates that the DNR conduct microbial source tracking analysis to determine which animal species are responsible for pollution when compiling the federal Clean Water Act's 303(d) list. This directly affects the DNR's process for listing polluted waterways and could influence future pollution reduction efforts targeting specific sources. The requirement applies only when fecal bacteria is the identified pollutant causing impairment.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires DNR to identify animal pollution sources for water quality management, strengthening regulatory precision to address fecal bacteria pollution under Clean Water Act.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality Wildlife

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SF 2264: A bill for an act providing for a manure management planning map.

This bill requires Iowa's Department of Natural Resources to create an interactive digital map on its website to help farmers and others applying manure from animal feeding operations (AFOs) avoid water pollution. The map identifies areas vulnerable to runoff based on terrain, weather, proximity to water sources, and fields covered by multiple management plans. It must be used before manure application, with operators verifying they consulted it when filing their manure or nutrient management plans. The map aims to reduce pollution risks by helping users adjust application timing and rates based on real-time environmental factors.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates interactive map to prevent water pollution from manure runoff, directly advancing water quality protection per environmental topic.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 19, 2026

HSB 713: A bill for an act relating to the use and withdrawal of Iowa’s surface and groundwater resources, including permitting requirements.

This bill (HSB 713) updates Iowa's water resource management rules by requiring permits for most surface and groundwater withdrawals. It directly affects agricultural, municipal, industrial, and recreational water users who must apply for permits before withdrawing water, with exemptions only for "nonregulated uses." Key provisions clarify "beneficial use" to include domestic, agricultural, and recreational needs while adding strict conditions: permits may be denied if withdrawals threaten long-term water availability, harm natural flow, or impair navigability. The bill also sets timelines for permit decisions (90 days for new applications, 30 days for renewals) and mandates that permits include conditions to mitigate environmental impacts.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires permits for most water withdrawals with conditions to prevent threats to sustainability, strengthening regulatory oversight of water resources under natural resources management.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 6, 2026

HJR 2007: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to the right of the people to a clean environment.

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.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentProposes constitutional right to clean air/water, mandates state conservation of natural resources, requires strict judicial review for infringements on environmental rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Water Quality

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SF 2261: A bill for an act relating to confinement feeding operations by requiring the installation and operation of pollution monitoring systems, and making penalties applicable.

SF 2261 requires owners of larger confinement feeding operations (excluding small animal feeding operations) to install and operate water pollution monitoring systems that track pollutants discharged to groundwater or surface water. These operators must report the collected data to Iowa's Department of Natural Resources (DNR) every 90 days, with the DNR publishing the data online and sharing it with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The bill applies to operations exceeding 500 animal units (e.g., large swine or cattle facilities), which are currently subject to less stringent regulation under Iowa law. Violations could result in daily civil penalties of up to $10,000.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates pollution monitoring and reporting for water quality protection, directly advancing environmental regulation of discharge from livestock operations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

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signed · Iowa · House Apr 16, 2026

HF 2534: A bill for an act relating to animal feeding operations by regulating shellfish, and making penalties applicable.

HF 2534 adds shellfish to Iowa's definition of "animal" under animal feeding operation (AFO) regulations. It establishes weight-based calculation rules: shellfish weighing 25 grams or more equal 0.001 animal units each, while smaller shellfish equal 0.00006 animal units each. Shellfish confinement operations can now choose to follow general water quality permitting instead of standard AFO requirements. This directly affects shellfish farmers by integrating them into the state's existing AFO regulatory framework.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill integrates shellfish into AFO regulations requiring water quality compliance. Alternative permitting is procedural, not a weakening. Extends environmental oversight to shellfish farming operations.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 23, 2026

HF 2447: A bill for an act relating to water and energy use for data centers, including reporting and tariff requirements, and including effective date provisions.

HF 2447 requires data centers in Iowa to submit quarterly reports on water and energy usage, including details like water sources, efficiency metrics (e.g., water usage effectiveness), and energy consumption data. It also mandates a separate utility tariff classification for data centers to ensure their costs are fairly allocated without shifting expenses to other electricity users. Data center operators must report basic facility information (name, address, operational dates) alongside usage metrics, with reports published online by state agencies. These requirements apply to all existing and new data centers within specified timeframes after the bill’s effective date.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires data centers to report water/energy efficiency metrics (e.g., WUE), promoting resource conservation and sustainable operations.85% confidence

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 12, 2026

HF 2416: 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.

HF 2416 prohibits the construction or expansion of confinement feeding operation structures (including partially roofed facilities) in Iowa, affecting most livestock operations. It allows exceptions for small animal feeding operations and ongoing projects begun before the bill's effective date. The moratorium ends 30 days after Iowa's Department of Natural Resources publishes a notice confirming fewer than 100 impaired water bodies on the state's 303(d) list. The bill amends Iowa's Animal Agriculture Compliance Act to implement this temporary construction freeze, which takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill prohibits construction/expansion of confinement feeding operations to reduce water pollution, tied to reducing impaired water bodies on Iowa's 303(d) list, directly protecting water quality.90% confidence

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 11, 2026

HF 2395: A bill for an act relating to the use of fluoride-based additives in private and public water supply systems.

HF 2395 bans the addition of hydrofluorosilicic acid and other fluoride-based additives to both public and private drinking water systems in Iowa. It requires county health boards to set private water standards that prevent fluoride levels exceeding natural background amounts, and directs the environmental protection commission to establish public water standards with the same limit. The bill updates drinking water rules to ensure they align with federal standards while prohibiting artificial fluoride addition. This directly affects all public water utilities and private well owners subject to county health regulations. The policy change specifically eliminates the use of fluoride additives in water treatment, setting maximum allowable levels at naturally occurring background concentrations.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill bans artificial fluoride additives in water systems to prevent excessive levels, directly protecting water quality and aligning with environmental protection standards for natural resource conservation.90% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBans artificial fluoride in water, a public health measure for dental care, opposing a standard healthcare initiative.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Water Quality

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