A bill for an act relating to the powers and duties of the Iowa sheep and wool promotion board, by changing its name to the Iowa sheep promotion board, eliminating the assessment on wool, changing the assessment rate on sheep, and providing for the collection and expenditure of moneys imposed by the assessment.

2025-2026 Regular Session

Renames the board to promote sheep products, replaces wool taxes with a base 20-cent per-head assessment (potential increases by referendum) to fund markets, education, and researc

Committee report approving bill, renumbered as HF 800.

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Summary: HSB 132 — Iowa Sheep Promotion Board (Renamed HF 800)

Overview

HSB 132 proposes restructuring Iowa’s sheep and wool industry promotion program by renaming the Iowa Sheep and Wool Promotion Board to the Iowa Sheep Promotion Board, removing the wool-specific assessment, and establishing a new base assessment on sheep. The bill also creates a framework for how funds are collected and used to promote and support markets, education, and research related to sheep and sheep products. The measure was introduced February 5, 2025, and, after committee action, was renumbered as HF 800.

Key Provisions

Name change and scope

Renames the Iowa Sheep and Wool Promotion Board to the Iowa Sheep Promotion Board.
Defines a producer as a person in the business of producing and selling sheep.

Assessment changes

Eliminates the per-pound wool assessment.
Establishes a base per-head sheep assessment of 20 cents.
Allows for an increased per-head rate (to 25 cents or higher) by board action, but only if approved by a referendum (as described in Code section 182.13B).
The assessment rate becomes effective on September 1, 2025, unless the board adopts an earlier date by resolution; prior rate terms may continue until that date.

Collection and use of funds

The renamed board may set up an electronic funds transfer system (operational at first purchaser concentration points, including points outside concentration points or outside the state).
Money from the assessment must be used to support expanding markets, education, and research related to sheep and sheep products.
Eligible products include, beyond live sheep and wool, items derived from a live or slaughtered sheep such as bones, milk, manure, mutton or lamb, sheepskin, and wool.

Governance and transition

Transition provisions preserve the terms of current board members until their current terms expire.
No referendum is required to implement the 20-cent per-head rate during the transition.
The bill does not limit producers’ power to terminate the board and assessment by referendum (Code section 182.4).

Affected Parties and Impacts

Producers: Sheep producers will pay the new base 20-cent per-head assessment, with possible increases subject to referendum approval.

Board: The Iowa Sheep Promotion Board (formerly the Iowa Sheep and Wool Promotion Board) administers the assessment, collection mechanisms, and the use of funds for promotion, education, and research.

Market and Research Programs: Funds will support activities spanning markets, education, and research related to sheep products (including but not limited to wool, meat, and byproducts).

Procedural Timeline and Status

Introduced: February 5, 2025 (Agriculture committee referral).

Subcommittee: February 5–11, 2025; recommended passage (Feb 11, 2025).

Committee: February 11, 2025 subcommittee; March 3, 2025 committee vote (Yeas 22, Nays 0, Excused 1); March 3 committee report recommending passage.

Renumbering and final status: Committee report approved March 5, 2025; bill renumbered HF 800.

Notes

The bill aligns Code references (182.11, 182.13B, 182.4) to the revised framework.

Provisions emphasize electronic collection efficiency and broaden the product scope funded by the assessment beyond wool alone.