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SF 646

A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations involving state government entities associated with agriculture, natural resources, and environmental protection.

2025-2026 Regular Session

SF 646 is an FY2026 omnibus act that funds agriculture, natural resources, and environmental programs in Iowa, with specific appropriations and program changes.

Explanations of votes.
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Bill Summary · SF 646

Summary — SF 646 (Chapter 156): Appropriations for Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Environmental Protection

Status: Enacted (signed by Governor June 11, 2025). Introduced May 1, 2025. Fiscal year covered: July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026. (Explanations of votes filed June 27, 2025.)

Purpose and intent

SF 646 is an omnibus appropriations act that funds state programs and activities related to agriculture, natural resources, and environmental protection for FY 2026. It provides General Fund and other dedicated-fund appropriations, establishes or continues program funding and administrative rules, and includes statutory adjustments and program-level requirements tied to those appropriations.

Key appropriations and fiscal provisions (selected)

  • Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (DALS) — General Fund
    • $20,377,294 for department operations (supports administration, regulation, programs); authorizes up to 420.00 FTEs.
    • Transfer of $325,000 to Iowa State University for the Midwest Grape and Wine Industry Institute.
    • Quarterly expenditure reporting to the General Assembly and Dept. of Management required.
  • DALS — Other dedicated funds
    • $305,516 from unclaimed pari‑mutuel wagering (sec. 99D.13) for horse & dog racing enforcement.
    • $500,000 from the Renewable Fuel Infrastructure Fund (sec. 159A.16) for motor fuel inspection.
    • $249,695 from the Iowa Skilled Worker and Job Creation Fund (sec. 8.57J) to support the Butchery Innovation and Revitalization Program (up to 5% may be used for administration). Unexpended funds for this program remain available through June 30, 2027 (nonreversion).
  • Special General Fund appropriations to DALS (examples)
    • Dairy regulation: $189,196 (with carry‑forward to succeeding FY if unspent).
    • Local Food and Farm Program: $125,000 (of which $50,000 supports an ISU study of the Choose Iowa food program and DALS/ISU cost‑share for a coordinator).
    • Agricultural education (FFA‑affiliated organization): $150,000.
    • Deposit to Foreign Animal Disease Preparedness & Response Fund: $1,050,000.
    • Farmers with Disabilities program: $230,000 (grant to national nonprofit to support statewide services).
  • Several appropriations contain nonreversion language (funds remain available into the next fiscal year) and limits on administrative use.

Programmatic and statutory amendments (selected)

  • Farm‑to‑school / Choose Iowa food purchasing pilot (Amendment H‑1338): clarifies eligible participants (schools not already in farm‑to‑school, Iowa food banks/emergency feeding organizations), narrows eligible food product categories by participant type, establishes per‑recipient caps (schools: max $1,000 per fiscal year; food banks/emergency feeding organizations: max $50,000; also references an overall $100,000 limit for reimbursements to schools).
  • Livestock disease indemnity and testing (Amendments S‑3150 / S‑3163): modify Code provisions on brucellosis and tuberculosis testing, owner consent and indemnification for destruction of infected/exposed cattle, and use of the Brucellosis and Tuberculosis Eradication Fund and USDA funds for indemnities. Several Code sections are amended or repealed and indemnity payments are conditioned on available funding.
  • Amendment H‑1337 (filed but lost in floor action) proposed changes to multi‑year dollar and date references (e.g., replacing 12,000,000 with 20,000,000 and extending a date to 2031); H‑1337 and H‑1338 were both filed and failed in the House floor vote noted in the record.

Who is affected

  • State agencies: DALS (primary), Department of Natural Resources, Iowa State University, University of Iowa, and other entities referenced elsewhere in the bill (Environment First Fund recipients).
  • Agricultural producers and rural stakeholders: livestock owners (disease testing/indemnity rules), butchery businesses (revitalization grants), dairy industry, farmers with disabilities, local food producers, rural grocers, schools and food banks participating in purchasing pilots.
  • Regulated industries: motor fuel distributors (fuel inspection), pari‑mutuel racing operations (funding source for enforcement).

Timeline, reporting, and fiscal controls

  • Fiscal year coverage: July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026; some appropriations carry forward into FY 2027.
  • Quarterly expenditure reports required from DALS to the General Assembly and Dept. of Management.
  • Various appropriations limit administrative uses (e.g., up to 5% for butchery program) and include nonreversion language for specified items.

Legislative actions

  • Passed Senate: May 12, 2025 (yeas 34, nays 14).
  • Passed House: May 13, 2025 (yeas 63, nays 28).
  • Enrolled and transmitted; signed by Governor Kim Reynolds: June 11, 2025.
  • Explanations of votes recorded June 27, 2025.

For detailed line‑by‑line appropriations, statutory text changes, or the complete enacted chapter, consult the enrolled bill (Chapter 156) and the bill text as signed into law.

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

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