Bills › 91st General Assembly
Requiring the department of natural resources to identify specific animal sources of pollutants to a water of the state when determining the water’s inclusion on a list of impaired waters
Sponsored by the House Agriculture Committee
Topics:AgricultureEnvironment & natural resources
Same legislation: HSB 657
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 3, 2026
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 3, 2026
- Done: House committeeFebruary 10, 2026
- Stopped: Passes the HouseDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Senate committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The 2026 session adjourned on May 3, 2026, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary When the Department of Natural Resources makes a list of polluted waters in Iowa, they must follow new rules regarding bacteria. If fecal bacteria is causing the pollution, the department must identify which specific types of animals are responsible. They will report this information using percentages for each animal species involved.1
Read the official explanation
§1251 – 1376. §1313) establishes water quality standards for states.7(b)(4)). Every two years, the department of natural resources (DNR) compiles a list of the state’s impaired waters (303(d) list) for approval by EPA.195). The bill provides that if, in compiling a 303(d) list, DNR determines that pollution is attributable to fecal bacteria, it must designate by percentage each species of animal, if any, that has contributed to the impairment.
Why it matters. The Department of Natural Resources would be required to identify the specific animal species contributing to fecal bacteria pollution in impaired waters by using DNA testing. This change is estimated to increase annual sampling expenses for the Department of Natural Resources by approximately $1.2 million.2
House subcommittee
Named February 3, 2026 (as HSB 657). On February 10, 2026 it recommended passage.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
1 written public comment to its subcommittee: February 10, 2026 (1) · on the Legislature’s site
Fiscal note
AI summary This bill requires the Department of Natural Resources to use DNA testing to identify which species are causing bacteria impairment in bodies of water. This change is estimated to increase annual sampling expenses for the Department of Natural Resources by approximately $1.2 million.4
Read the fiscal note
Description
House File 2530 requires the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to conduct an analysis to determine, by percentage, each species that contributed to the impairment of a body of water before the DNR places it on the State’s impaired waters list due to fecal indicator bacteria. The Bill allows the DNR to use microbial source tracking (MST) to identify the species present.
Background
The Federal Clean Water Act (CWA) establishes water quality standards for states. States must establish a priority ranking of waters in the state that have been impaired according to total maximum daily loads of pollutants established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Every two years the DNR compiles a list of impaired waters to be approved by the EPA by April 1.
Assumptions
- The DNR will conduct a similar number of samples for MST testing as it does when testing for E. coli, approximately 1,800 per year.
- The DNR estimates that collecting an MST sample for testing will cost approximately $675 per sample.
- Existing staff would be used to collect and process MST samples.
Fiscal Impact
The fiscal impact of HF 2530 would increase annual sampling expenses to the DNR by approximately $1.2 million.
Source
- Department of Natural Resources
- Impaired Waters, DNA Testing to Determine Cause · March 3, 2026
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91st General Assembly