All Roll Calls
Yes: 132 • No: 0
IowaSF 63291st General Assembly (2025–2026)SenateWALLET
A bill for an act providing for programs and regulations related to agriculture, including crop production, animal health, and agricultural processing, providing for powers and duties of the department of agriculture and land stewardship, providing fees, and providing penalties. (Formerly SF 522, SSB 1160.) Effective date: 07/01/2025.
Sponsored By: COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
9 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.
State meat and poultry checks match federal
Beginning July 1, 2025, Iowa sets meat and poultry inspection rules at least equal to federal law. The Agriculture Secretary runs the program to meet that goal. The state inspection bureau works with USDA. This helps ensure consistent food‑safety rules for processors and shoppers.
Veterinary clinics: certificates and fines
Starting July 1, 2025, anyone who provides veterinary care or owns a clinic must get a board certificate. The board sets conduct rules and certification fees, and can deny, renew, or discipline certificates. The veterinary board can also suspend or revoke licenses and fine up to $10,000. The attorney general can collect fines, and money goes to the state’s general fund. Animal shelters treating animals in their custody are exempt.
New statewide fertilizer fees and rules
Beginning July 1, 2025, anyone who makes or sells fertilizer must get a $20 license per place, register each brand and grade, and follow tighter labels and uniform mixing rules. The state sets inspection fees (up to $0.20 per ton), a $100 yearly fee for small packages (25 lbs. or less), and a $30 yearly fee for some distributors with larger specialty sales or who apply for pay; late reports add a 10% penalty (at least $50), and per‑ton fees can be lowered when the fund balance is high. A new groundwater protection fee applies to nitrogen fertilizers: an 82% nitrogen mix pays $0.75 per ton and other mixes pay in proportion; trace nitrogen can be exempt. The department can sample and test products, issue stop‑sale orders, seize noncompliant lots, and ban harmful or misleading fillers; registrants must prove product claims, and sworn lab results count as prima facie evidence. The state may set equipment safety and specialty‑labeling rules, regulates unmanipulated bulk dry manure, allows manufacturer‑to‑manufacturer shipments, treats some fertilizer in pesticide mixes as inert for pesticide rules, classifies some items as agricultural hazardous materials, counts manures returned to soil as agricultural waste, and preempts conflicting local fertilizer rules. Some specialty and foliar products, and certain compost used on organic or transition land, are exempt from parts of these rules.
Oral option for pesticide exams
Starting July 1, 2025, the Agriculture Department can let pesticide applicators take an oral exam instead of a written test. Department rules will set who can use the oral option.
Backup fund for court ordered livestock care
Beginning July 1, 2025, the department can use the livestock remediation fund to cover feed and care when a court orders it. It applies only when money cannot be paid fast enough under sections 717.4 or 717.5. Any unspent money goes back to the fund. Sale proceeds, after department costs, repay the fund.
Faster animal disease control and livestock sales
Starting July 1, 2025, the Agriculture Department must use the most practical methods to find and control animal diseases. It can adopt emergency rules that take effect right away to stop outbreaks. When a court orders livestock sold or transferred, it is treated like a receiver sale. After costs are paid, any money left is split by the order in chapter 680.
Clearer farm activity rules and protections
Starting July 1, 2025, preparing soil and applying fertilizer or certain pesticides count as producing farm goods. Agricultural land means tracts of 10+ acres used in 3 of the last 5 years, and includes farm homes and protected land. Common farm work—like applying fertilizer, caring for animals, and harvesting—is not treated as critical infrastructure sabotage. This clarifies which farm rules apply and lowers legal risk for routine work.
New 10 acre, 3 year farm test
Beginning July 1, 2025, land counts as agricultural only if it is at least 10 acres. It must have been used to produce farm goods in 3 of the last 5 years. Land with a farm home or farm buildings still counts. Land set aside for conservation still counts. This matters for programs that use the state's agricultural land definition.
Meat and poultry plant licenses and inspections
Starting July 1, 2025, meat and poultry businesses must have a state license unless exempt (food establishments, home processors, or personal-use slaughter). The fee is $50 if the plant handles 20,000 pounds or less a year, or $100 if more. The department keeps these fees. The secretary must run inspections to meet federal‑level standards and can use chapter powers, including targeted exemptions when needed.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 5/8/2025
Passed House
Yes: 84 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/29/2025
Passed Senate
Yes: 48 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Signed by Governor.
6/6/2025GovernorReported correctly enrolled, signed by President and Speaker, and sent to Governor.
5/23/2025SenateExplanation of vote.
5/13/2025legislatureMessage from House.
5/9/2025HouseImmediate message.
5/8/2025legislaturePassed House, yeas 84, nays 0.
5/8/2025HouseSubstituted for HF 998.
5/8/2025legislatureRead first time, passed on file.
4/30/2025legislatureMessage from Senate.
4/30/2025SenateImmediate message.
4/29/2025legislaturePassed Senate, yeas 48, nays 0.
4/29/2025SenateCommittee report, approving bill.
4/21/2025legislatureIntroduced, placed on Ways and Means calendar.
4/21/2025legislature
Bill Text
As Introduced
Enrolled
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