Relating to and making appropriations involving state government entities associated with agriculture, natural resources, and environmental protection, and providing penalties

This bill relates to and makes appropriations for FY 2025-2026 involving state government entities associated with agriculture, natural resources, and environmental protection, including the department of agriculture and land stewardship (DALS), department of natural resources (DNR), Iowa state university of science and technology (ISU), and state university of Iowa (UI). DALS. The bill appropriates moneys from the general fund of the state (GF) to DALS for general operations, ISU’s midwest grape and wine industry institute, dairy regulation, the local food and farm program, agricultural education, foreign animal disease preparedness and response, the farmers with disabilities program, loess hills development and conservation, southern Iowa development and conservation, grain regulation, the choose Iowa fund, and the choose Iowa food purchasing program (codified in the bill). The bill also appropriates moneys to DALS from pari-mutuel wagering winnings for administration and enforcement of horse and dog racing, from the renewable fuel infrastructure fund for motor fuel inspections, and from the Iowa skilled worker and job creation fund for the butchery innovation and revitalization program. DNR. The bill appropriates moneys from the GF to DNR for general operations, floodplain management and dam safety, forestry health management, and state park operations and maintenance. The bill also appropriates moneys to DNR from the state fish and game protection fund for various activities, from the groundwater protection fund for DNR’s groundwater protection activities, and from the special snowmobile fund for snowmobile programs. ISU. The bill appropriates moneys from the GF to ISU for the veterinary diagnostic laboratory, management of private forests, and livestock disease research. The bill also appropriates moneys from the Iowa nutrient research fund to ISU for the veterinary diagnostic laboratory. UI. The bill appropriates moneys from the GF to UI for the center for agricultural safety and health and to support a groundwater planning and resource assessment project administered by the Iowa geological survey. ENVIRONMENT FIRST FUND. The bill appropriates moneys from the environment first fund (EFF) to DALS for the conservation reserve enhancement program, watershed protection, the conservation reserve program, soil and water conservation, and the water quality initiative fund; to DNR for state park maintenance and operations, geographic information system data, water quality monitoring, the public water supply system account, regulation of animal feeding operations, floodplain management and dam safety, and ambient air quality; and to UI for Iowa geological survey operations and water resource management. RESOURCES ENHANCEMENT AND PROTECTION. Current law provides for an annual appropriation from the GF to the Iowa resources enhancement and protection (REAP) fund through FY 2025-2026. The bill extends this appropriation through FY 2027–2028. For FY 2025-2026, the bill appropriates moneys from the EFF to the REAP fund in lieu of the standing GF appropriation. The bill also allows certain moneys in the open spaces account of the REAP fund to be used by DNR for state park maintenance, development, operations, and facility refurbishment. ANIMAL DISEASE PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE. The bill adds to the purposes for which moneys may be appropriated from the foreign animal disease preparedness and response fund to include supporting activities related to animal health and disease response that strengthen the state’s overall ability to prevent, prepare for, and respond to emerging or reemerging animal diseases. The bill strikes the current provisions of the brucellosis and tuberculosis eradication fund, renames and repurposes the fund to the Iowa animal disease prevention fund to develop, establish, and implement an animal disease prevention strategy, and transfers all remaining moneys to the amended fund. The bill appropriates moneys from the Iowa animal disease prevention fund to DALS for purchasing and maintaining equipment to further the implementation of the foreign animal disease preparedness and response strategy, assisting in the development of vaccines against foreign animal diseases by a company based in Iowa that develops livestock and other animal vaccines, the foreign animal disease preparedness and response fund, and upgrading information technology used by DALS. The bill appropriates moneys from the Iowa animal disease prevention fund to ISU for purposes of assisting the college of veterinary medicine veterinary diagnostic laboratory in installing and moving equipment into its refurbished facility and for animal disease research. PROCEEDS FROM SALES OF REAL PROPERTY —— EXPENDITURES FOR STATE PARKS. The bill directs moneys generated from the sale of real property and structures in state parks to be deposited in the state conservation fund (SCF). The bill appropriates moneys generated from such sales to DNR to be used for purposes of the SCF at the specific state park from which the moneys were generated.