By Kate Hansen, former staff member
We are in the 15th week of the Iowa state legislative session, and expect things to wrap up in the coming weeks. April 28 will be the 110th calendar day, when lawmakers’ per diem expenses end, though is it not unprecedented for the session to run beyond that date.
We are enthusiastic that in a budget released late last week, House lawmakers included a $250,000 investment for Watershed Management Authority (WMA) staff. We are appreciative of the efforts of Rep. Norlin Mommsen and his colleagues on the Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee for taking steps that will promote water quality and flood mitigation across the state.
The Senate is expected to release a similar budget soon, and we want to be sure it also includes support for the WMAs. If your state senator is a member of the Senate’s respective subcommittee, it is a critical time to express your support. Click here to see if your senator is a member, and to learn more about how to get involved.
We were also glad to see House File (HF) 666 pass the House by a vote of 98-0 on April 11. Proposed by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the legislation relates to programs and regulations administered and enforced by the department. Division IV of the bill would allow unused Water Quality Initiative funding in an urban account to be moved to an agriculture projects account. It now awaits consideration in the Senate.
Finally, a number of bills we are watching were placed under unfinished business, including Senate File (SF) 550, which would fund the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund, and SF 411, which would prevent a county or city from limiting consumer access to an energy source. This procedural move keeps the bills eligible for consideration.
If you have any questions or would like to share the rural issues that are important to you, do not hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected] or 515.215.1294.
Water quality
SF 550—For, with note: Introduced by Senate Ways and Means Chair, Sen. Dan Dawson, this legislation would modify sales and use, water service, property, and local option taxes, and other tax mechanisms. Notably, the legislation would fund the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund, or IWILL. The Center is registered in support of this legislation specifically as it relates to Watershed Management Authorities and the Local Conservation Partnership Program detailed in sections 135 and 136. SF 550 passed out of the Senate Ways and Means Committee on March 9. On March 28, a fiscal note was released, and on March 30 the bill was placed on the Senate calendar under unfinished business.
SF 311/HF 666—For: Proposed by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, this legislation relates to programs and regulations administered and enforced by the department. It encompasses multiple content areas, including water quality. Division IV of the bill would allow Water Quality Initiative funding in an urban account to be moved to an agriculture projects account at the department’s discretion. It is our understanding that in past years, funding has been left over in the urban account, even after all eligible applications were funded. We see this proposal as an opportunity to maximize the impact and availability of state funds directed to water quality. Watershed Management Authorities often use these funds to implement key conservation and flood mitigation projects in their area. On April 11, HF 666 was amended and passed the House by a vote of 98-0. It was read in the Senate on April 12 and attached to SF 311. On April 19, an amendment was filed to SF 311, including language to clarify that only unused urban funds could be moved, aligning it with HF 666.
HF 376—For: Introduced by Rep. Charles Isenhart, this legislation would fund the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund, also known as IWILL, by increasing the state sales tax incrementally from 6% to 6.375% by 2026. Such action would create robust new funding for conservation efforts across the state, including Iowa’s Watershed Management Authorities. The bill was introduced on Feb. 21 and referred to Ways and Means.
SF 455—Monitoring: In its first iteration as SF 34, this bill would have prohibited counties and cities from adopting, enforcing, or otherwise administering regulations on stormwater that exceed or conflict with federal regulations. In the amendment process, the bill evolved, and now relates to regulation of top soil and storm water at construction sites. On March 15, the bill was amended and passed by the Senate by a vote of 33-15. In the House, it was placed under unfinished business on April 6, and multiple amendments have subsequently been filed.
Renewable energy
HF 248—Against: This bill would remove a requirement placed on public utilities that own electric generation facilities fueled by coal to file biannual updates to their plan and budget for managing regulated emissions. Instead, the legislation would allow the affected utilities to have the sole discretion in filing updates to this plan, which would reduce oversight from the IUB to control the cost to ratepayers. On Feb. 15, HF 248 passed the House by a vote of 75-24. On March 22, it passed the Senate floor by a vote of 41-9. HF 248 is now on the governor’s desk awaiting her signature.
SF 411 —Undecided: Introduced by Senate Commerce Committee Chair, Sen. Waylon Brown, this bill states that a county or a city cannot adopt an ordinance, motion, resolution, or amendment that limits consumer access to an energy source or contributes to the prohibition of the sale or production and the infrastructure necessary to provide consumer access. An energy source is defined as any fuel or power source used to operate an engine including any type of fossil fuel, hydrogen, natural gas, and electricity used for charging vehicles. This bill passed the Senate on March 6 by a vote of 41-6. On April 6, the bill was placed under unfinished business, a procedural move to keep it eligible for consideration.
Other bills of interest
HF 661/SF 134—For: Introduced in both the House and Senate, this legislation would make changes relating to licensing for local foods producers and vendors. On March 15, HF 661 was amended and passed by the House by a vote of 77-20. On April 12, its subcommittee in the Senate Ways and Means Committee recommended its passage. The Center is supportive of elements of the bill that would shift farmers market licensing requirements from a county basis to a statewide basis. It would also make changes to licensing requirements for food processing plants, temporary food establishments, and the definition of homemade food items.
