This bill requires Iowa state agencies to ensure that any passenger vehicle rented or leased with a diesel engine can use biodiesel fuel blended at 20% or higher (B-20). Specifically, it mandates that private vendors must provide manufacturer documentation confirming the vehicle's engine is compatible with B-20 biodiesel before being awarded state contracts. The requirement applies to all new or renewed rental/lease contracts issued on or after July 1, 2026. It extends an existing certification rule currently used for state vehicle purchases to the rental/lease procurement process. The bill does not mandate biodiesel use but ensures state vehicles can utilize this fuel type if chosen.
HF 2687 establishes a $100,000 pilot program to expand Iowa's groundwater monitoring by retrofitting up to 100 existing private wells owned by businesses or other entities with modern monitoring equipment. The program, running from 2026-2029, requires voluntary participation with property owner consent and sets standards for installation, data safety, and equipment (measuring water levels and temperature). All retrofit costs are covered by the state, and data collected will be shared with the Iowa Geological Survey for statewide analysis while giving well owners access to their own data. The program mandates a 2028 report evaluating the pilot's effectiveness before potential future expansion.
This bill requires the state of Iowa to only rent or lease passenger vehicles with diesel engines that manufacturers confirm can run on biodiesel blends of 20% or higher (B-20+). It directly affects private companies bidding on state vehicle rental or leasing contracts by mandating they provide manufacturer certification of this compatibility. The requirement applies to all new or renewed contracts starting July 1, 2026, extending an existing rule currently used for state vehicle purchases. This ensures state-leased vehicles are compatible with higher-blend biodiesel fuel without altering vehicle performance standards.
SF 2267 requires Iowa's Department of Natural Resources and the Division of Soil Conservation and Water Quality (within the Department of Agriculture) to publish online, regularly updated reports tracking progress on state-funded clean water projects. These reports must include water quality data collected before, during, and after projects, specifically for initiatives monitoring surface water to establish benchmarks for goals like reducing pollutants or runoff. The bill applies to any state-funded program measuring nutrient levels, stormwater, or runoff, making the data publicly accessible via a joint agency website. This focuses on transparency for projects already authorized under existing water quality laws, without creating new programs or mandates.
This bill adds shellfish to Iowa's definition of "animal" under animal feeding operation (AFO) regulations, categorizing them by weight for compliance calculations. Specifically, shellfish weighing 25 grams or more count as 0.001 animal units each, while smaller shellfish count as 0.00006 animal units each. This directly affects shellfish farming operations, requiring them to follow the same environmental rules as traditional livestock AFOs, including manure management and separation distances from water sources or residences. The change integrates shellfish into Iowa's existing AFO regulatory framework without altering penalty amounts, which remain up to $10,000 for violations.
This bill makes tax exemptions for nuclear power facilities, web search portals, and data centers contingent on funding nuclear engineering programs at Iowa's public universities. Specifically, businesses receiving these exemptions must contribute at least 5% of their annual tax exemption value to state universities with nuclear engineering programs. If they fail to contribute, they lose their tax exemption eligibility and must repay all previously claimed exemptions. The bill directly affects new or expanded facilities in these sectors (with construction dates starting in 2027 for data centers and web portals) and requires annual contributions tied to their tax savings.
HF 2529 requires manufacturers of farm equipment with diesel exhaust fluid systems to provide owners (farmers, lessees, or licensees) with free diagnostic and repair information, including software updates, on the same terms they offer to their authorized repair providers. It also mandates that manufacturers make replacement parts and diagnostic tools available for purchase at fair, reasonable prices comparable to those offered to authorized repair providers in the same region. The bill does not force manufacturers to disclose trade secrets or override existing agreements, but voids contracts that waive these new rights. This directly affects farmers who operate diesel-powered agricultural equipment requiring emissions control systems.
HF 2618 repeals Iowa's "smart planning principles" (sections 18B.1 and 18B.2), which required local governments and state agencies to consider 10 specific guidelines in planning, zoning, and development decisions. The bill removes these requirements from state code, eliminating the obligation for cities, counties, and state agencies to reference or apply these principles when creating comprehensive plans, zoning regulations, or infrastructure projects. It also deletes related references from other sections of Iowa law governing regional planning (28I.4), airport zoning (329.3), and local development regulations (335.5, 414.3). This change directly affects how local governments approach land use and development planning across Iowa.
SF 2447 establishes statewide setback requirements for renewable energy facilities in Iowa, directly affecting local governments (cities/counties) and developers of wind, solar, and battery storage projects. The bill mandates specific minimum distances: wind facilities must be 3 times their height from homes/community buildings, 1.1 times their height from non-participating property, and 1.1 times their height from roads or utility lines. Local authorities cannot enforce stricter setback rules than these standards, though they may adopt limited additional requirements like a 30-hour annual shadow flicker limit or 47-decibel sound limits. The law applies to all wind facilities proposed after January 1, 2025, and sets uniform rules to streamline approvals for renewable projects.
HF 2642 (Iowa) creates new rules for disposing liquid waste from native distilleries and changes water permit processes. It requires the Department of Natural Resources to establish standards for land application of distillery waste, considering waste volume, disposal method, and per-acre daily rates. The bill removes a categorical definition of "beneficial use" for water permits and instead mandates case-by-case department reviews for permit approvals, with strict 90-day (new) and 30-day (renewal) processing deadlines. This directly affects Iowa distilleries holding class "A" native distilled spirits licenses. The law aims to standardize waste disposal while shifting water permit decisions from category-based rules to individual assessments.
