Agriculture

HF 851 requires all Iowa public and nonpublic schools offering kindergarten through grade 12 to include specific nutrition education in their health curricula. It mandates that students learn about the importance, benefits, and role of animal-based proteins, dairy, vegetables, and fruits in a balanced diet across multiple grade levels. The bill also modifies career and technical education to include agriculture, food, and natural resources instruction, emphasizing local food sourcing. These changes apply to all schools meeting state curriculum standards, with requirements beginning in the 2023-2024 school year for certain grades.

HF 989 establishes a new regulatory framework for anaerobic digester systems used in animal feeding operations. The bill defines various terms related to these systems, including digester manure, feedstock, and digestate. It grants a state department the authority to create rules for the on-farm construction, expansion, storage, stockpiling, and application of materials associated with anaerobic digesters. These regulations aim to manage organic materials originating from animal feeding operations, and the bill also provides for fees and applicable penalties.

SSB 3123 creates a "Choose Iowa" program to promote agricultural products grown and processed in Iowa. It establishes membership for farmers, processors, and marketers to use a "Choose Iowa" logo on their products, and sets up two reimbursement programs: schools and school districts receive full reimbursement (100% of costs) for purchasing qualified Iowa food items (like meat, dairy, grains, and produce), while food banks get similar reimbursement capped at $50,000 per organization annually. The bill also allocates $1.75 million annually for renewable fuel infrastructure and includes administrative funding for program oversight. This directly affects Iowa agricultural producers, schools, and food banks through these promotional and reimbursement mechanisms.

This bill limits civil or criminal liability for businesses when climate-related damages are alleged to stem from greenhouse gas emissions. It applies specifically to emissions from agricultural operations or renewable fuel sources (like farms or biofuel facilities), covering gases including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. Plaintiffs must prove by clear and convincing evidence that the business violated existing emissions rules or permits before pursuing such claims. The law does not create new legal rights but shields entities complying with current regulatory standards from climate-related lawsuits.

SF 2306 requires Iowa's Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to inspect businesses that handle non-agricultural animals, such as pet shops, shelters, boarding kennels, and commercial breeders. The bill mandates regular inspections during business hours and priority inspections for complaints or suspected violations of animal care standards. Businesses must allow inspections, and refusal may lead to a warrant for entry. This applies only to commercial animal businesses (not farms or agricultural operations), focusing on ensuring minimum care standards like food, water, and veterinary access.