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HF 2771

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.

2025-2026 Regular Session

Allocates targeted funds to bolster animal health and disease preparedness, groundwater and water resource management, and park/conservation programs across state agencies and UI.

NOBA: Final
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Bill Summary · HF 2771

Summary of HF 2771 (Session 2025-2026, Iowa)

Purpose

HF 2771 is a appropriations and policy bill focused on funding and programmatic guidance for state government entities involved in agriculture, natural resources, and environmental protection. It includes targeted allocations from various state funds, program authorizations, and a few new or clarified authorities to support conservation, water resources, parks, animal health, and noxious weed control. The bill also introduces a contingent effective date provision (not fully shown in the excerpt).

Key Provisions and Changes

  • Veterinary and animal health-related support

    • Allocates funds to support the Iowa State University (ISU) veterinary diagnostic laboratory and related livestock disease research and private forestry management activities.
    • Allocates funds from the Iowa Nutrient Research Fund to ISU for the veterinary diagnostic laboratory.
    • Allocates funds from the Iowa Animal Disease Prevention Fund to the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (DALS) and ISU to bolster animal disease preparedness and response.

  • Universities and centers

    • Provides General Fund (GF) appropriations to the University of Iowa (UI) for:
    • Center for Agricultural Safety and Health
    • Groundwater protection-related initiatives
    • Iowa Geological Survey operations
    • From the Groundwater Protection Fund, UI receives support to maintain the Iowa Water Quality Information System.
    • From the Water Quality Financing Program Fund, UI receives funding to map and assess the condition of Iowa’s aquifers via the Iowa Geological Survey.

  • Environment First Fund (EFF) allocations

    • Transfers and appropriations from the Environment First Fund:
    • Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (DALS): Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, Watershed Protection, Conservation Reserve Program, Soil and Water Conservation, and Water Quality Initiative Fund.
    • Department of Natural Resources (DNR): State park maintenance and operations, Geographic Information System (GIS), Water Quality Monitoring, Public Water Supply System Account, regulation ofAnimal Feeding Operations (AFOs), floodplain management and dam safety, and ambient air quality.
    • UI: Support for Iowa Geological Survey operations and water resource management.
    • For Fiscal Year 2026-2027, the bill proposes appropriations from the EFF to the REAP (Resources Enhancement and Protection) Fund in lieu of the standing GF appropriation.
    • Allows funds in the REAP Open Spaces Account to be used by DNR for state park maintenance, development, operations, and facility refurbishment.

  • Noxious weeds

    • Declares Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) as a primary noxious weed, signaling increased regulatory attention and potential control measures.

Affected Entities and Beneficiaries

  • State agencies: DALS, UI, DNR, and the UI-related centers (Center for Agricultural Safety and Health; Iowa Geological Survey).
  • Universities: ISU and UI receive targeted funding for laboratories, safety/health programs, groundwater and water resource initiatives.
  • State programs: REAP, Water Quality Initiatives, GIS, and AFO regulation programs receive funding from EFF and related funds.
  • Primary stakeholders: agricultural producers, water resource managers, park system, noxious weed control programs, and researchers in animal health, soil and water conservation, and groundwater protection.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • The bill includes funding provisions for FY 2026-2027 and beyond, with changes to funding streams (notably REAP funding in lieu of GF appropriations).
  • It designates a new noxious weed listing (Japanese knotweed) as a primary weed.
  • Action history indicates the bill was introduced and placed on the Appropriations calendar as of April 15, 2026.

Potential Impacts

  • Enhanced funding and capacity for veterinary diagnostics, animal disease preparedness, and livestock health research.
  • Strengthened management and monitoring of water resources, groundwater protection, and aquifer assessment.
  • Expanded support for state parks, conservation programs, watershed protection, and related environmental initiatives.
  • Increased regulatory attention and potential control measures for invasive plants, notably Japanese knotweed.
  • Reallocation of REAP funds could affect project prioritization and funding stability for open spaces and environmental conservation efforts.

Note: The summary reflects provisions visible in the available text. If you need a section-by-section bill outline or analysis of specific fiscal amounts, dates, or implementation timelines, I can expand accordingly.

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

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