All Roll Calls
Yes: 135 • No: 0
IowaHF 222791st General Assembly (2025–2026)HouseWALLET
A bill for an act relating to land restoration following the initial construction of electric transmission lines, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions. (Formerly HSB 526.) Effective date: 04/16/2026. Applicability date: 07/01/2024.
Sponsored By: COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE
Signed by Governor
commerce
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Power line builders must restore land
The law requires transmission owners to restore land after building high‑voltage lines. After work ends, they must deep till (18 inches for crop land, 12 inches for other land) unless you agree to a different plan. They must fix damaged drain tile to its original quality, size, and flow (the tile rule does not apply inside city limits). They must remove non‑native rocks over 3 inches, restore soil conservation features and grades, and reseed non‑row‑crop areas and use cover crops when suitable. They must remove temporary roads unless you agree to keep them. In wet ground, they must use mats and fix ruts; if you do agreed repairs, they must repay your reasonable costs. These rules apply to initial construction of lines 200 kV or more approved on or after 07/01/2024 and start 04/16/2026.
Stronger oversight and dispute fixes
The Utilities Commission can inspect restoration work and, in a dispute, appoint an inspector. If there is a violation, it can order fixes, make the owner pay, and fine for continued noncompliance. The Commission can hire inspectors, and the owner must pay the reasonable inspection cost. Each franchise petitioner must file a land restoration plan and give it to every affected landowner. Each project must list a contact person with phone, email, and mailing address. The Commission must adopt rules to run these standards. These requirements apply to initial construction of lines 200 kV or more approved on or after 07/01/2024 and start 04/16/2026.
You can agree on different restoration
You and the transmission owner can sign a separate written restoration or property protection agreement and file it with the Commission; it can replace the default rules. The Commission can waive a specific rule if the owner proves another method will restore the land as well or better. An agricultural impact mitigation plan filed with the Commission can count as the restoration plan if it meets the law’s standards. These options start 04/16/2026.
Which power lines these rules cover
The law covers only initial construction of lines 200 kV or higher that are in a federally registered long‑term transmission plan with regional cost sharing and approved on or after 07/01/2024. It applies retroactively to those approvals. The law takes effect 04/16/2026.
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Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 3/24/2026
Passed Senate
Yes: 45 • No: 0
House vote • 3/2/2026
Passed House
Yes: 90 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Signed by Governor.
4/16/2026GovernorReported correctly enrolled, signed by Speaker and President, and sent to Governor.
4/16/2026SenateMessage from Senate.
3/25/2026SenateImmediate message.
3/24/2026legislaturePassed Senate, yeas 45, nays 0.
3/24/2026SenatePlaced on calendar.
3/18/2026legislatureCommittee report, recommending passage.
3/18/2026legislatureSubcommittee recommends passage.
3/11/2026legislatureSubcommittee Meeting: 03/11/2026 12:30PM Room 217 Conference Room.
3/10/2026legislatureSubcommittee: Sweeney, Drey, and Driscoll.
3/10/2026legislatureRead first time, referred to Commerce.
3/3/2026legislatureMessage from House.
3/3/2026HouseImmediate message.
3/2/2026legislaturePassed House, yeas 90, nays 0.
3/2/2026HouseAmendment H-8047 adopted.
3/2/2026legislatureAmendment H-8047 filed.
2/25/2026legislatureIntroduced, placed on calendar.
1/30/2026legislature
Bill Text
As Introduced
Enrolled
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