IowaHF 277191st General Assembly (2025–2026)House

A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations involving state government entities associated with agriculture, natural resources, and environmental protection, and including contingent effective date provisions. (Formerly HSB 772.) Effective Date: Conditional, 07/01/2026.

Sponsored By: COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

33 provisions identified: 32 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Iowa funds help for disabled farmers

Beginning July 1, 2026, Iowa provides a $230,000 nonprofit grant serving farmers with disabilities in all 99 counties. Services include home and worksite modification advice, peer support, family services, referrals, and equipment loans. The national nonprofit must have over 80 years of experience serving people with disabilities and special needs. Its program must have started in 1986, operate in at least 30 other states, and be unavailable through another Iowa entity. Uncommitted funds remain available through June 30, 2028.

Insurance support for retiring conservation officers

Beginning July 1, 2026, Iowa’s natural resources department can use unappropriated fish and game fund balances for retiree insurance premiums. This supports health and life insurance payments tied to unused sick leave. It applies to retiring conservation peace officers in the protection occupations specified by state retirement law. The law does not guarantee a payment or set its amount.

Funding flexibility for conservation employee pay

For budget year 2026–2027, Iowa’s natural resources department can use unappropriated fish and game fund balances for salary adjustments. This applies only to employees covered by the law’s fish and game operating budget appropriation. The law does not require a raise or set a raise amount.

Conservation programs get longer spending windows

Uncommitted 2026–2027 Environment First appropriations generally remain available until June 30, 2028, or project completion, whichever comes first. This general extension excludes transfers to the Loess Hills Development and Conservation Fund. A longer window covers eligible agriculture department assistance for permanent soil and water conservation practices. Those uncommitted funds remain available through June 30, 2030.

Iowa funds farm soil conservation

Beginning July 1, 2026, Iowa provides $8.325 million for 2026–2027 soil and water conservation. This includes $140,000 for Hungry Canyons and $8.185 million for department and district work. Districts may use their first $15,000, plus 30% of the remaining allocation, for row-crop erosion incentives. Of the $8.185 million, 5% must protect watersheds above public lakes; up to 5% may address specified erosion complaints. Administration and implementation are capped at 15% of that amount; Hungry Canyons administration is capped at 10%. A separate $3.8 million funds conservation administration and implementation, including $150,000 for field staff providing technical help.

Iowa funds farm water-quality projects

Beginning July 1, 2026, the Water Quality Initiative gets $2.375 million for 2026–2027 watershed projects, farm demonstrations, and urban conservation. Projects must serve designated watersheds, with priority for targeted high-priority areas. Farm demonstrations must use Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy practices and involve people with a legal interest in farmland used for farming. Except for edge-of-field practices, state support cannot exceed the lower of 50% of estimated or actual practice costs. Urban projects may receive cost-share help, and administration and implementation are capped at 10%. Demonstrations also require education, field days, monitoring, and a combined database that protects producer identities.

Iowa funds farm workplace safety

Beginning July 1, 2026, the University of Iowa receives $128,154 for its agricultural safety and health center. The 2026–2027 money supports efforts to prevent farm workplace illness and injury. The university must retain the current director for at least the hours worked in 2025–2026 and cannot cut other support because of this funding. If money returns to the state at year-end, the university must make the required general fund transfer, reduced by amounts already returned.

Iowa funds flood and dam safety

Beginning July 1, 2026, Iowa provides $1.51 million for floodplain management and dam safety in budget year 2026–2027. Up to $400,000 can buy or install stream gauges to track floods, improve predictions, and study flood frequency. Uncommitted funds remain available through June 30, 2028.

Iowa funds forests and landowner help

Beginning July 1, 2026, Iowa provides $525,000 for forest health programs; unused, uncommitted money remains available through June 30, 2028. Iowa State University Extension also receives $150,000 and one full-time-equivalent position for 2026–2027. That support helps landowners and loggers manage private forests in northeast Iowa. The Department of Natural Resources must help administer the extension funding.

Iowa funds groundwater and public water

Beginning July 1, 2026, Iowa provides $3.45585 million for 2026–2027 groundwater protection from fund money outside the usual statutory allocation. Another $500,000 goes into the public water supply system account. Groundwater fund interest and earnings provide up to $300,000 for water-quality monitoring and up to $176,150 for groundwater protection. These amounts depend on actual earnings and become available only after the specified University of Iowa interest-and-earnings appropriation is fully made available. Monitoring grants require agreement among the agriculture department, natural resources department, and Iowa State University's agriculture college; continuous monitoring is also allowed.

Iowa funds livestock and air oversight

Beginning July 1, 2026, Iowa provides $1.32 million for 2026–2027 regulation of animal feeding operations. Another $425,000 supports efforts to reduce, control, and prevent outdoor air pollution. Air-quality work includes meeting and maintaining standards for particle pollution. These allocations fund oversight rather than establish new household duties.

Iowa funds parks and resource protection

Beginning July 1, 2026, Iowa provides $6.235 million for 2026–2027 state park maintenance, operations, and related staff time. Separate allocations provide $1 million for park operations and grounds and facility repairs, plus $300,000 for structural and infrastructure repairs. The law also provides $12 million for Resource Enhancement and Protection programs through the Environment First Fund. That money follows the program's allocation rules and replaces its standing general fund appropriation.

Iowa funds water monitoring and mapping

Beginning July 1, 2026, Iowa provides $2.955 million for 2026–2027 water-quality monitoring stations and $195,000 for local watershed mapping data. The Iowa Geological Survey receives $200,000 for operations and $495,000 to assess water quantities and help state regulators. Groundwater planning and aquifer assessment receive $122,000 from the general fund, with unused, uncommitted money remaining available after year-end. The same assessment project receives up to $78,000 from groundwater protection fund interest and earnings. That allocation cannot exceed the fund's actual 2026–2027 interest and earnings.

Iowa funds wetlands and flood protection

Beginning July 1, 2026, Iowa provides $1 million for 2026–2027 wetland restoration and construction that intercepts farm drainage runoff. The state may combine this money with other Environment First funds to match available federal wetland funding. Separate allocations provide $900,000 for flood, erosion, water-quality, and conservation work, plus $900,000 to help farmers maintain buffer strips and restore plant cover. Each of these three allocations has a 10% cap on administration and implementation costs. Another $375,000 supports floodplain management and dam safety.

Iowa funds wildlife and outdoor programs

For July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, Iowa provides $12.816738 million for Department of Natural Resources operations. The law authorizes up to 1,145.95 full-time-equivalent positions. Another $53.095606 million from the fish and game protection fund supports hunting, fishing, trapping, wildlife management, enforcement, and related programs. The special snowmobile fund provides $100,000 for snowmobile program administration and enforcement.

Regional conservation groups receive state funding

Beginning July 1, 2026, Iowa provides $300,000 for Loess Hills conservation and development. Hungry Canyons receives $260,000, and the Loess Hills Alliance receives $40,000. Another $100,000 supports Southern Iowa conservation and development. Each allocation has a 10% cap on administrative costs.

State parks get dedicated upkeep staff

For budget year 2026–2027, Iowa reserves 50 authorized full-time-equivalent positions for seasonal state park upkeep and sanitation workers. This allocation does not affect conservation officer, park ranger, or park manager positions. The law also allows up to $1 million from the Open Spaces Account for park maintenance, development, operations, and facility repairs.

Food purchasing aid for banks, schools

Beginning July 1, 2026, Iowa provides $200,000 for the Choose Iowa food bank purchasing program. It helps eligible participants buy qualified food products. A separate $200,000 supports qualified food purchases by eligible Iowa schools and districts. School funding takes effect July 1, 2026, only upon enactment of House File 2748 or successor legislation. Uncommitted money from both appropriations remains available through June 30, 2028.

Iowa funds education for future farmers

Beginning July 1, 2026, Iowa provides $150,000 to an Iowa association that promotes agricultural education for future farmers. The association must be affiliated with a national organization serving that purpose. Uncommitted funds remain available through June 30, 2028. The law does not set individual student awards.

Iowa funds agriculture services and technology

Beginning July 1, 2026, Iowa provides $20.733294 million for agriculture department operations, regulation, and programs during 2026–2027. The law supports up to 420 full-time-equivalent positions. A separate $160,000 funds upgrades to the department's information technology. These funds support agency services rather than direct household payments.

Iowa funds animal testing and research

Beginning July 1, 2026, Iowa State University's veterinary diagnostic laboratory receives $4.799898 million for 2026–2027 operations, with up to 51 full-time-equivalent positions. Another $120,000 from the Iowa nutrient research fund supports laboratory operations, and $122,000 funds equipment installation and moving into its refurbished facility. The university cannot cut other support for its veterinary college because of this appropriation, except through equal-percentage cuts across all budget units. A separate $291,390 supports animal disease research important to livestock producers.

Iowa funds farm animal disease readiness

Beginning July 1, 2026, Iowa adds $1.05 million to its foreign animal disease preparedness and response fund. The money supports animal disease preparation and response. Separately, specified animal disease appropriations left uncommitted at the end of budget year 2026–2027 remain available through June 30, 2028. Those funds must still serve their designated purposes.

Iowa funds horse and dog racing oversight

For budget year 2026–2027, Iowa provides $305,516 from available pari-mutuel wagering money for horse and dog racing oversight. The agriculture department uses the money to administer and enforce racing law. This funds state oversight rather than household payments.

Iowa funds livestock disease preparedness

Beginning July 1, 2026, Iowa provides $150,000 for 2026–2027 equipment purchases and upkeep supporting its foreign animal disease strategy. Another $200,000 goes into the foreign animal disease preparedness and response fund. The law also provides $100,000 to assist an Iowa-based company that develops livestock and other animal vaccines. That assistance must support vaccines against foreign animal diseases.

Iowa supports local food and wine

Beginning July 1, 2026, Iowa provides $125,000 for its local food and farm program. The agriculture department must share costs with Iowa State University for the program coordinator. Uncommitted local food program money remains available through June 30, 2028. The law also transfers $325,000 from the department’s 2026–2027 general funding to the university’s Midwest Grape and Wine Industry Institute.

Iowa funds fuel and farm inspections

For budget year 2026–2027, Iowa provides $500,000 from its renewable fuel infrastructure fund for motor fuel inspections. It also provides $189,196 for dairy oversight, including a Grade A milk survey and certification of results. Another $350,000 supports grain law administration and enforcement. Uncommitted dairy oversight money remains available through June 30, 2028. These appropriations fund oversight, not direct payments or promised price reductions.

Iowa sets annual water funding shares

From July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2039, Iowa sets annual shares for its water quality financial assistance fund. Money deposited for a specific purpose is excluded. First, $500,000 goes to water monitoring; the remainder is split 65% for treatment assistance and 15% for urban water projects. The final 20% supports technical help and conservation practices in specified watershed counties. Those watersheds are Boone, East Fork Des Moines, Middle Des Moines, North Raccoon, South Raccoon, and Upper Des Moines.

Low-interest water loans for small cities

Beginning July 1, 2026, Iowa provides $10 million for the new Rural Iowa Infrastructure Bank. The Iowa Finance Authority runs this revolving loan program for cities with 11,000 or fewer people. Cities must apply and use loans to upgrade water or wastewater systems. Loan interest cannot exceed 1%. Repayments and recovered funds return to the program for future lending.

More funding and larger water grants

Beginning July 1, 2026, Iowa provides $8 million for wastewater and drinking water treatment assistance in budget year 2026–2027. Projects must improve water quality by addressing pollution from specific sources or runoff. Projects involving partners receive higher priority. The maximum grant per applicant doubles from $500,000 to $1 million, but awards are not guaranteed. This funds community projects, not household payments.

Regional water funding targets nutrient removal

For budget year 2026–2027, the Iowa Finance Authority must allocate up to $25 million for added nutrient removal technology. The money comes from uncommitted water quality financing program funds. The recipient must be a regional authority made up of public utilities, rural water districts, and other government bodies. It must serve at least 600,000 people and be headquartered in Iowa’s most populous county under the 2020 census. The money remains available through June 30, 2029.

Water loan receipts support treatment assistance

Starting July 1, 2026, water quality financing program loan and interest payments go into the water quality financial assistance fund. That fund supports wastewater and drinking water treatment assistance. After July 31, 2026, remaining uncommitted financing program money also transfers to the assistance fund for its designated purposes. An amount matching obligations made before July 1, 2026, stays in the original fund.

Choose Iowa funds farm business programs

Beginning July 1, 2026, Iowa provides $2.113 million to the Choose Iowa fund. At least $500,000 supports value-added agricultural grants, and at least $500,000 supports dairy innovation and revitalization. Up to $1.113 million supports Choose Iowa promotion. The agriculture department can adjust these amounts based on participant awards. It must post notice on the program website at least 30 days before changing funding.

Existing water loan program winds down

Starting July 1, 2026, the Iowa Finance Authority cannot start new loans under the existing water quality financing program. This does not cancel outstanding loans. The law ends the program’s legal authority when all its loans are fully repaid. No fixed end date is set.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 260 • No: 41

Senate vote • 5/2/2026

Passed Senate

Yes: 43 • No: 2

House vote • 5/2/2026

Passed House

Yes: 66 • No: 18

legislature vote • 5/1/2026

Amendment H-8455 to amendment H-8404

Yes: 86 • No: 0

House vote • 5/1/2026