This bill increases the state funding limit for nonpublic school pupil transportation claims from approximately $8.997 million to $9.184 million for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The additional funds are specifically designated to reimburse claims that were not previously paid because they were submitted late due to administrative errors. It directs the Iowa Department of Education to use these new moneys to process those delayed reimbursements and takes effect immediately upon enactment.
This bill creates a new state fund to provide financial assistance for building highway overpasses and underpasses across railway tracks. The Department of Transportation will manage the fund and distribute grants to cities and counties to help cover construction costs. Unlike current rules that only apply to cities, this measure extends similar support to counties, ensuring both local governments can address safety and convenience issues related to railway crossings. The bill also specifies that any interest earned on the fund will remain within it and that the money will not automatically revert to the general treasury at the end of each fiscal year.
This bill authorizes specific funding for the Iowa Department of Transportation for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, drawing from the Road Use Tax Fund and the Primary Road Fund. The legislation allocates money for various operational needs, including salaries for over 2,600 employees, maintenance of roads and facilities, modernization of vehicle registration systems, and support for driver licensing services. Additionally, the bill establishes rules for how any leftover funds from certain maintenance and modernization projects must be used, ensuring they remain available for up to three years after the fiscal year ends rather than reverting to the state treasury.
This bill requires drainage and levee districts in Iowa to waive administrative fees for local contractors and fiber optic network companies applying to install fiber optic cables on district land. Under the new rules, these specific local businesses will not be charged for the review, approval, or rejection of their easement applications, though districts may publish a list of eligible companies. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment, streamlining the process for local infrastructure providers without changing the district's authority to grant easements.
This Iowa bill modifies the state tax refund program specifically for biodiesel producers. The legislation increases the refund rate from four cents to five cents per gallon of biodiesel produced within the state. It also extends the expiration date for this tax benefit from January 1, 2028, to January 1, 2031. These adjustments apply to the total number of gallons produced by eligible producers during each quarter of a calendar year.
This Iowa bill extends the expiration date for the biodiesel blended fuel tax credit from January 1, 2028, to January 1, 2033. The change directly affects retail dealers who sell biodiesel fuel blends, allowing them to continue claiming a state income tax credit for promoting these fuels. By updating the relevant tax code sections, the legislation ensures that dealers whose tax years do not align with the original repeal date can still claim the credit for a full calendar year. The bill also clarifies how the credit amount should be calculated for dealers claiming it in the year following the extension period.
This bill clarifies the administrative process for approving payments during the construction of farm-to-market roads. It specifies that county boards of supervisors, county engineers, or the Department of Transportation (DOT) are authorized to approve both partial and final claims for work in progress. This change formalizes the payment approval authority for these entities, affecting contractors and those overseeing rural road development.
This bill modifies age requirements for certain commercial motor vehicle drivers operating exclusively within the state. It lowers the minimum age for intrastate drivers transporting hazardous materials that require placarding, by making state age qualification rules inapplicable to them. Conversely, the bill removes an existing exemption for retail dealers and their employees who deliver fertilizers, petroleum products, and pesticides to farm customers within a 100-mile radius. As a result, these specific drivers will now be subject to general state driver age qualification rules.
This bill expands Iowa's existing open container laws to include beverages containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), directly affecting drivers and passengers in motor vehicles on public roads. It prohibits the possession of an open or unsealed container of any beverage with THC in the vehicle's passenger area. This restriction applies regardless of whether the THC beverage is otherwise legal, though such containers may be transported in the trunk or behind the last upright seat if the vehicle lacks a trunk. Violations of this prohibition would be considered a simple misdemeanor, punishable by a scheduled fine.
This bill prohibits considering a motor carrier's use of safety improvements when determining a person's employment status under state law. It directly affects motor carriers and the individuals who work for them, such as drivers, whose classification as an employee, independent contractor, or jointly employed person is being assessed. The bill specifies that any device, equipment, software, training, or policy primarily intended to improve traffic safety cannot be a factor in these employment status decisions. The aim is to ensure that efforts to enhance safety within the motor carrier industry do not influence legal employment classifications.
