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HF 886

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2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Marj Fogelman

Pursues upgrading U.S. Highway 30 across Iowa to four lanes and restricts eminent domain for century farms or home properties until all reasonable alternatives are explored.

Introduction and first reading, referred to Elections Finance and Government Operations
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Bill Summary · HF 886

Summary — HF 886 (2025) — United States Highway 30 improvement and eminent domain restrictions

Status: Introduced 03/07/2025; passed House (81–15) with Amendment H‑1124 (3/19/2025); read first time in Senate/Transportation 03/20/2025. Companion: SF 38.

Note on metadata: some header metadata (title/subject and committee referral) in the provided materials appear inconsistent with the bill text; the bill text and fiscal notes clearly address improvements to U.S. Highway 30 in Iowa and related eminent domain limits.

Main purpose

Require the State Transportation Commission and Department of Transportation (DOT) to prioritize and plan for upgrading the full length of U.S. Highway 30 across Iowa to four‑lane divided roadway, and to restrict use of eminent domain for that expansion with special protections for century farms and residential property.

Key provisions

  • Adds language to Code section 307A.2 to:
    • Prioritize improvement of the segment of U.S. Highway 30 across Iowa (Missouri River west of Missouri Valley to the Mississippi River east of Clinton).
    • Require the Commission’s long‑range program to include plans to expand all two‑lane portions to four‑lane divided roadways until the entire highway is four lanes.
  • New Section 306.48 (Amendment H‑1124):
    • DOT shall not exercise eminent domain (including under chapters 6A and 6B) to acquire land necessary to expand two‑lane portions of U.S. Highway 30 if the land is part of a “century farm” (per section 403.17(10)) or is residential real property (per section 535B.1), until DOT has expended “all reasonable alternatives.”

Fiscal and implementation details (from fiscal notes)

  • U.S. Highway 30 in Iowa: ~331 miles.
  • Estimated total construction cost: ~$1.5 billion.
    • Add two lanes to ~120 miles at ~$6.7 million per mile.
    • Construct ~39.5 miles of four‑lane bypasses at ~$10.0 million per mile.
    • ~16 interchanges at ~$17.5 million each.
  • Funding: mix of federal highway formula funds and the State Primary Road Fund (PRF). Federal funding could potentially cover up to 80% of construction costs depending on timing and project selection.
  • Ongoing operations/maintenance: estimated ~$1.7 million annually (PRF).
  • Stewardship (major rehabilitation) expected at ~30‑year intervals after initial construction.
  • No explicit construction schedule in the bill; the Commission must include projects in its rolling long‑range (5‑year rolling) program.

Who is affected

  • State Transportation Commission and Iowa DOT (planning, project selection, outreach).
  • Federal and state transportation funding allocations (PRF).
  • Landowners along U.S. Highway 30 — particularly owners of century farms and residential property (added protections against condemnation until alternatives are exhausted).
  • Local communities and road users (potential safety, mobility, and economic impacts).
  • Potentially increased costs or project delays if eminent domain use is constrained.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Infrastructure: would set a policy priority for full four‑lane conversion across the state portion of U.S. 30, potentially improving mobility and safety.
  • Fiscal: substantial multi‑year capital commitment (~$1.5B), dependent on federal funding share and annual DOT programming/prioritization.
  • Property rights: eminent domain limitation could slow right‑of‑way acquisition or increase project complexity/costs where alternatives must be explored before condemnation for century farms/residential parcels.
  • Timing: bill mandates planning/prioritization within the DOT’s existing long‑range/5‑year program but does not set mandatory construction timelines.

Legislative history highlights: Amendment H‑1124 (adding eminent domain restriction) adopted; House passage 3/19/2025; subcommittee activity noted 3/24/2025.

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

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