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HSB 693

A bill for an act providing a limitation on civil or criminal liability for any alleged actual or potential effect on climate caused wholly or partly by a greenhouse gas emission.

2025-2026 Regular Session

Iowa bill shields greenhouse gas emitters from all civil and criminal liability for climate-related damages, eliminating legal accountability for emission-caused harms.

Committee report approving bill, renumbered as HF 2527.
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Bill Summary · HSB 693

Legislative bill overview

HSB 693 would shield entities from civil or criminal liability for damages allegedly caused by greenhouse gas emissions. The bill essentially creates legal immunity for parties whose operations produce emissions that contribute to climate-related harms, regardless of the extent of their responsibility.

Why is this important

This legislation directly affects climate accountability and litigation. It would prevent individuals and communities harmed by climate impacts from suing emitters for damages, while also protecting emission-producing entities from criminal prosecution for climate-related consequences. This represents a significant shift in how climate-related legal responsibility is allocated in Iowa.

Potential points of contention

  • Liability shield scope: The blanket immunity for "any alleged actual or potential effect" is extremely broad—it would protect parties even if their emissions directly cause quantifiable harm to specific individuals or property
  • Access to justice: Citizens experiencing climate-related damages (flooding, drought, infrastructure damage) would lose legal recourse against major emitters, shifting costs to individuals, insurers, or taxpayers
  • Precedent concerns: This approach contradicts emerging legal frameworks in other states and nations that hold emitters responsible; it may conflict with existing tort law principles that typically allow compensation for foreseeable harms
  • Agriculture industry protection: The Agriculture Committee referral suggests this benefits Iowa's farm and agribusiness sectors, raising questions about whether this protects specific industries rather than serving broader policy goals

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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