Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to surface water quality by requiring the establishment and maintenance of riparian protection measures, providing for financing, and providing penalties
Sponsored by Sen. Molly Donahue (D), Sen. William A. Dotzler Jr. (D), Sen. Janet Petersen (D), Sen. Art Staed (D), Sen. Janice Weiner (D)
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 25, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 26, 2025
- Stopped: Senate committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: House committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The General Assembly adjourned on October 2, 2026. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
GENERAL. This bill amends Code chapter 466B, which provides for a number of programs to protect surface water and provide for flood mitigation and watershed management., a watercourse such as a river, stream, or drainage ditch; or body of water such as a pond, lake, or reservoir) to establish and maintain a riparian protection measure (measure) in compliance with a riparian protection compliance plan (plan). The plan is derived from a riparian protection inventory and map developed by the department of natural resources (DNR).
Read the full explanation
ADMINISTRATION. The plan must be prepared by the landowner and approved by the division of soil conservation and water quality (division) created within the department of agriculture and land stewardship. The division must act in partnership with commissioners of soil and water conservation districts (commissioners), and in cooperation with a number of other government entities, including the state soil conservation and water quality committee, the water resources coordinating council, and DNR. REQUIREMENTS., erosion control practice or soil and water conservation practice) alone or in combination with a modified riparian protection buffer. The landowner must establish and maintain the measure after the division completes a riparian protection inventory and map which identifies the land subject to riparian protection. A landowner may apply for financial assistance to establish a measure under a number of programs, including cost-share moneys awarded under the authority of the division. EXCEPTIONS., a forest); (6) the land contains unique geological characteristics; or (7) the land is subject to construction. The division may also create other exceptions if it determines that the exception would not interfere with the bill’s purposes. ENFORCEMENT., for violating the terms of a cost-share agreement). If the division enforces the plan, if must first issue a compliance order listing items that the landowner must complete within a specified time but not more than one year after the compliance order has been issued. The bill also prohibits a landowner or another person from engaging in any work to remove or degrade a riparian protection measure, unless the person has obtained authorization. The bill provides a range of civil penalties based on the number of parcels included in the plan and the period that the violation continues after the compliance order was delivered. The amounts of the civil penalties range from $100 to $500 per parcel.
From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Amendments adopted later aren’t reflected. Full bill text
Senate subcommittee
Named February 26, 2025. It hasn’t reported yet.
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
Iowa Code it changes
Creates§466B.51§466B.52§466B.53§466B.54§466B.55§466B.56§466B.57§466B.58§466B.59
Amends§161A.4§161A.42§161A.48§161A.49§161A.72§161C.2§455B.171§466B.5§466B.6§466B.7
Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works
Lobbying
2 for · 0 against · 0 undecided · Who →
Family tree
Where this legislation came from and where it went: earlier tries, the versions it moved through this Assembly, and later bills built on it.
91st General Assembly
Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title; check the text to be sure it’s the same idea.
Tried before
This idea has been filed in an earlier General Assembly. None got through a chamber.
- SF 2198 Relating to surface water quality by requiring the establishment and maintenance of ripari…90th General Assembly · In committee · same titleCleared committee
- HF 2029 Relating to surface water quality by requiring the establishment and maintenance of ripari…90th General Assembly · In committee · same titleCleared committee
Similar bills this General Assembly
- HF 151 Relating to surface water quality by requiring the establishment and maintenance of ripari…91st General Assembly · In committeeNearly identical
Matched by the wording of each bill’s explanation, or an identical title. Companion bills and renumbered versions of this bill aren’t listed; they’re the same bill.