Legislation Tracker

Bill Tracker Worksheet - 2025 Legislative Session

The legislature gaveled in on January 13, 2025. 

The Iowa Chapter is tracking the bills in the following worksheet.  Bills can be accessed from www.legis.iowa.gov

To learn more about our positions on key bills, see our blog

Bills are sorted by “Position”, followed by “Bill number”.  

Note: The Legislative Committee votes to take an “Undecided” (aka “Monitoring”) position on a bill when additional research is needed (more thorough reading of the bill, conferring with other collaborative partners, tactical follow-up with legislative bill sponsor); or because registering on a bill is necessary to be able to speak on it, we want to be able to speak in Committee and/or quickly react to changes that make the bill better/worse.

Bill #

Prior bill

Description

Issue

Position: for, against, undecided

HF142

 

Modifications to forest and fruit tree reservation property tax exemptions, setting a tax, retiring the old program

wildlands

against

HF191

 

Prohibits geoengineering – the intentional release on contaminants into the atmosphere to affect temperature, weather, or the intensity of sunlight.  Requires DNR to form emergency rules implementing the prohibition.

Climate

Against

HF29

 

Reduces fur dealer license fees to $50 for both in-state and out-of-state dealers.  Currently DNR rules charge $264 annually for resident fur dealer licenses.  Currently non-resident fur-dealer license are $586 annually or $292.50 for one day and one location. Currently, if non-residents live in a state that has reciprocity with Iowa, the nonresident pays the reciprocity fee amount (which is between the resident and nonresident license fee).

Wildlife

against

HF302

HSB67

Utilities Commission prohibited from considering climate change for consideration of hazardous liquid pipelines

pipelines

against

HF353

 

Must be registered for a political party for at least 30 days in order to vote in the primary; a person can run for office for a political party if they have been a member of the party for at least a year

Good govt

against

HF85

 

Regulatory relief for some businesses who request it from Economic Development

Good govt

Against

HF91

 

Voting law changes, forbids ranked-choice voting, eliminates drop boxes, changes absentee voting

Good govt

against

HJR7

HJR1

Constitutional amendment on right to hunt, fish, trap, harvest wildlife subject to reasonable laws enacted by the general assembly and reasonable rules adopted by the natural resource commission that promote wildlife conservation and management, maintain natural resources in trust for public use, and preserve the future of hunting, fishing, trapping, and harvesting wildlife.  The amendment shall not be construed to modify any provision of law relating to eminent domain, trespass, property rights, or water resources.  It states that public hunting, fishing, trapping, and harvesting of wildlife shall be a preferred means of managing and controlling wildlife.

Wildlife

against

HSB123 , SSB1112

 

Governor’s Energy Act

Energy

against

HSB130

 

Quantum technology tax credit

Energy

against

SF140 , HF245

 

A satellite absentee voting station cannot be placed on school property if a question to approve a bond, an instructional support program, an educational improvement program, a physical plant and equipment levy, or public education and recreation levy issued by any school appears on the ballot

Good Govt

against

SF158 , HF160

 

Anybody who registers to vote at the polls or who registers to vote at the absentee voting station must cast a provisional ballot.  Then the absentee and special voters precinct board shall count the provisional ballots if the board determines the person is eligible to vote.  Today, if the polling place has been able to determine the eligibility to vote, then the voter is able to cast a regular ballot.

Good govt

against

SF159

 

Allows detailed voter records to be given to 3rd parties for the purpose of allowing an individual to research and help maintain the voter database

Good govt

against

SF160 , HF169

 

No longer requires automatic vote tabulating equipment and optical scan voting equipment

Good govt

against

SF17

 

Forest and fruit tree reservation property tax exemption given to those who have homestead exemption, verification of eligibility

Wildlands

against

SF219

 

Forest and fruit tree reservations will be assessed property tax based on location of the reservation and where owner maintains a homestead

wildlands

against

SF75 ,

HF127

SSB1018

Dictates that counties with 125,000 or more residents and counties with the main campus of an institution of higher learning governed by the state board of regents (ISU, UNI, UI) elect members to the Board of Supervisors following Plan 3.  Plan 3 requires individual members of the board of supervisors to be elected from single-member, equal-population districts.  Currently counties can decide for themselves how the supervisors are elected – at large, residing in districts but elected at large, residing in districts with and voted on by members living in the district

Good govt

against

SJR2 , HJR6

 

Article V constitutional convention to impose fiscal restraints, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, sets terms for a person serving in Congress

Good Govt

against

SSB1013

 

Allows council and school board elections to be by political parties with primaries instead of runoffs

Good govt

against

SSB1051

 

Provides civil liability protection for pesticide manufacturers.  The label provides sufficient warming if it complies with any one of 3 criteria: 1:  it was approved by the EPA, 2: it is consistent with the most recent human health assessment performed under the federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, 3: it is consistent with EPA’s carcinogenicity classification for the pesticide

Toxics , pesticides

against

SSB1113

 

Right of first refusal on transmission lines

Energy

against

SSB1115

 

Changes process in how a city can grant, amend, extend, renew a franchise within the city.  Changes how a city can discontinue the operation of a city utility.  It reduces citizen participation.

Energy

against

HF148

 

Notification if commercial sod is entwined with plastic netting – when sold or when installed

toxics

for

HF151

 

requires a landowner owning property adjoining a public water source (river, stream, or drainage ditch, a pond, lake, or reservoir) to establish and maintain a riparian protection measure in compliance with a riparian protection compliance plan. The plan is derived from a riparian protection inventory and map developed by the Department of Natural Resources.

Water

for

HF159

 

prohibits a city from adopting or enforcing an ordinance, motion, resolution, or amendment that restricts an owner of real property in a district zoned for residential use with a speed limit of 25 miles per hour or less from growing purposely planted vegetation that is 42 inches or less in height.

wildlands

for

HF185

 

requiring the consideration of project labor agreements for certain state construction projects

Good govt

for

HF188

 

automatic mailing of absentee ballots to all voters

Good govt

for

HF195

 

Puts black bear on the furbearer list, which would allow DNR to have a closed season on the hunting of black bear until the population is sustainable to have a hunting season

Wildlife

for

HF237 , SF228

 

Utilities Commission will not threaten or impose sanctions on intervenors in contested cases before the Iowa utilities commission unless they were dishonest or in violation of criminal statute or unless injury is quantifiable and exceeds $500.

pipeline

for

HF238 , SF225

 

One-and-done permit applications for a carbon dioxide pipeline; no renewals, pipeline can only operate for 25 years

Pipeline

for

HF239 , SF229

 

Restructures the Office of Consumer Advocate

Pipeline

for

HF240 , SF239

 

Insurance requirements for hazardous liquid pipeline

Pipeline

for

HF241 , SF224

 

All utilities commission members must be in attendance at hearings and at least one member must be at informational meetings

Pipeline

for

HF242 , SF226

 

Identifies which court can handle eminent domain cases arising from carbon dioxide pipelines, plus declaratory order regarding the right of eminent domain

Pipeline

for

HF258

 

Allows counties with more than 150,000 residents to create a regional transit district – currently the threshold is 175,000

Energy

for

HF259 , SSB1087

HSB75

Giving public notice of public meetings, amended meeting agendas, and cancellations

Good govt

for

HF286

 

Limits contributions a person makes to a campaign committee to $5,000 during an election cycle

Good govt

for

HF287

 

Makes election day a holiday

Good govt

for

HF288

 

Sets campaign contribution limits to what is required under federal law, for all public offices in Iowa.  For the current limits, see www.fec.gov/help-candidates-and-committees/candidate-taking-receipts/contribution-limits/

Good govt

for

HF290

 

Registers people to vote using the drivers license information, provides for option of not registering and also registering by party affiliation

Good govt

for

HF364

 

$20,000 appropriated to Department of Health and Human Services for radon test kits – which will be distributed free-of-charge to homeowners and renters; HHS to designate a radon testing laboratory

toxics

for

HF370

 

Solar tax credit, indexed to federal clean energy tax credit, sets a cap on the total tax credits that can be claimed in Iowa

Energy

for

HF376

 

Sets campaign contribution limits for candidates running for statewide office and legislature

Good govt

for

HF377

 

Allows a renter to have a radon test of the rental property.  Landlord can retest.  If higher results of either test is greater than 4 picocuries per liter, a radon mitigation system is to be installed.  Failure to install radon mitigation allows the renter to break the lease.

toxics

for

HF400 , SSB1086

HSB76

upon receipt of a public records request, the lawful custodian shall promptly acknowledge the request and provide the contact information of the lawful custodian’s authorized designee, provide an approximate date for a response and an estimate of any reasonable fees associated with the request, and inform the requester of any expected delay in production of the public record

Good govt

for

HF404

HSB81

Establishes a community solar program

Energy

for

HF416

 

Increases the fines for violations of the open meetings laws, requires public officials to have training on open meetings and open records

Good govt

for

HF82

 

state building code to require new single-family or 2-family residential construction must include passive methods for mitigating radon.

toxics

for

HJR3

 

Constitutional amendment for the right of the people of Iowa to a clean environment

Good govt

for

HJR4

 

Regal fritillary designated as the official state butterfly

wildlife

for

HJR5

 

Constitutional amendment allowing citizen initiatives

Good govt

for

HSB128

 

Authorizes Iowa to join the Midwest interstate passenger rail compact

Energy

for

HSB154 , SSB1116

 

Changes the public notice requirements for cities and counties, affects zoning and revitalization hearings.  Also includes other notice requirements.

Good govt

for

HSB165

 

Study of commercial fertilizer by Iowa Dept of Ag or it contractor to reduce the per-cropland-acre application of nitrogen fertilizer by the less of 15% or 30 pounds, report is due Jan. 15, 2028

Ag

for

HSB66 , SSB1041

 

A person has liability for reasonable costs incurrent by the state or other political subdivisions for responding to the scene of a hazardous condition caused by the person and oversight and monitoring of the condition 

toxics

for

HSB77 , SSB1085

 

Changes window for filing complaints with Public Information Board from 60 days to 90 days about a violation of the open meetings or open records laws or when person becomes aware of the violation

Good govt

for

SF136

 

With respect to hazardous liquid pipelines - allowing the county establish setbacks and safety regulations, easement requirements and landowner rights, voluntary easement negotiation requirements, 90% requirement of voluntary easements, pipeline project investor disclosures, provisions for land surveys, moratorium on new permits until PHMSA rules are issued, plume modeling studies must be released, 8-foot depth for pipeline burial, land restoration requirements and crop damages

Pipeline

for

SF169

 

if a nonprofit cooperative association or cooperative association provides utility service to members, the most recent biennial report and financial information, including the budget and balance sheet, for the nonprofit cooperative association or cooperative association must be made available to a member within 30 days of a reasonable request by the member.

Energy

for

SF183 , HF368

 

regulation of animal feeding operations

Water, ag

for

SF203

 

Prohibits killing of black bears, gray wolves, mountain lions; allows killing in case of personal protection but requires notification of the DNR; removes wolf from fur-bearer list

wildlife

for

SF249 , HF413

 

Any person residing, traveling through, or visiting, or owning or leasing property, equipment, or livestock, within a 25-mile radius from the site of a release of carbon dioxide from a liquefied carbon dioxide pipeline or CO2 facility has standing to bring an action against the owner of a liquefied CO2 pipeline or CO2 facility if CO2 is released from the pipeline or facility.  The claim has to be filed within one year of the incident.  The owner has strict liability for all compensatory and punitive damages.  Any judgment lien for an action brought under the bill has priority over all other security interests or liens.  Any assets held by an owner involved in bankruptcy or receivership are to be held in trust for the benefit of potential CO2 victim judgment lienholders for a period of one year from the owner’s last day of controlling the operations of the pipeline or facility or the owner’s last day of producing CO2 that will be transported through a pipeline or sequestered on the property.

pipeline

for

SF254

 

Forbids municipality or fire department from purchasing fire fighter equipment that does not have a permanent label if it contains PFAS, after July 1, 2026

toxics

for

SF267

 

Allows shared solar net metering cooperative

Energy

for

SF3 , HSB83

 

amends the definition of “essential county purpose” related to protection of property from floodwaters to include reconnection of floodplains and wetland and oxbow lake restoration.  The implication is that Supervisors can issue bonds for essential county purpose without approval by voters.

Water

for

SF43

 

authorizes cities to require radon testing for single family residences used as rental property, retesting requirements, mitigation requirements.

toxics

for

SF47 , HSB116

 

Deals with SLAPP suits

Good Govt

for

SF74

 

repeals provisions for land surveys in connection with hazardous liquid pipeline construction projects which allow a pipeline company to enter private land by giving 10-days notice

Pipeline

for

SF92

 

Precludes eminent domain for hazardous liquid pipeline on agriculture land

Pipeline

for

SF95

 

Defines common carriers in eminent domain law

Pipeline

for

SJR3

 

Constitutional amendment that disqualifies those adjudged mentally competent from voting; removes the disqualification of those convicted of infamous crimes

Good govt

for

SSB1063

 

Disclosure of lead service lines when real estate is transferred

Toxics

for

SSB1072

 

an instrumentality of a city or township is a government body subject to open records law

Good govt

for

HF107

 

Allows use of all-terrain vehicles on public hunting areas for the purpose of transporting deer carcasses

Wildlands

Undecided

HF211

 

radon mitigation system tax credit up to $1,000 available against the individual and corporate income taxes

toxics

undecided

HF322

 

Stop Squatters Act

Good govt

 

undecided

HF36

 

Defines interpreting statutes and rules in court proceedings – de novo

Good govt

undecided

HF54 , HSB118

 

Allows electric vehicle manufacturers to be licensed as motor vehicle dealers

Energy – EV

undecided

HSB103 , SSB1101

 

Removes Iowa’s greenhouse gas reporting; will rely on the reports that have been done in the past by EPA

Climate

undecided

HSB134

 

maximum weight of vehicles powered primarily by electric battery set at 82,000 pounds

Energy

undecided

HSB135

 

A person shall not recycle battery electric motor vehicles or plug-in hybrid electric motor vehicles, unless the person is an authorized vehicle recycler who has successfully completed a vehicle high-voltage battery safe handling and storage education program approved by the department of transportation. An authorized vehicle recycler shall display a program completion certificate next to the recycler’s license.  The department of transportation shall approve vehicle high-voltage battery safe handling and storage education programs.  The programs shall award a program completion certificate to an authorized vehicle recycler who successfully completes the program.

Energy - EVs

undecided

HSB143

 

Changes to the operation of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

Ag

undecided

SB1106

 

changes brownfield and grayfield, and redevelopment tax credits, plus other tax credits have changes

Good govt

undecided

SF142

 

Prohibits geoengineering of the atmosphere

Climate

undecided

SF161

 

Prohibits state agencies and local governments from regulating certain residential gardens – does not include growing prairie plants, city can still say tall plants are a public nuisance

Good govt

undecided

SF260

SSB1093

Allows landowner to breach a beaver dam to protect property, also reduces the fur dealer license fee to $50 for both resident and non-residents (currently $264 annually for residents; $586 annually for non-residents or $292.50 for a one-day one-location license)

Wildlife

undecided

SF268

 

Relates to oil and gas production filing requirements along with requirements for metallic minerals exploration or production

Energy

undecided

SF281

 

prohibiting hunting near public recreation areas

wildlife

undecided

SF299

 

Establishes a carbon dioxide disaster relief fund

pipelines

undecided

SSB1071

 

The abstract of title should include note of the existing levee or drainage district and if the land is part of the district

water

undecided