Environment (Water Quality)

HF 861 changes how Iowa evaluates whether water uses qualify as "beneficial" for permit approvals. It removes the current legal definition of beneficial use and requires the Department of Natural Resources to assess each permit application individually on a case-by-case basis, rather than applying predefined categories. The bill also sets strict deadlines: new permits must be decided within 90 days and renewals within 30 days, while requiring all permits to include routine conservation practices and emergency measures. This directly affects water users seeking permits for diversion, storage, or withdrawal across Iowa.