SSB 3060: Relating to the acquisition of water, sanitary sewer, and storm water utilities, including required findings by the Iowa utilities commission, the timeline for issuing ratemaking principles, and the determination of applicable ratemaking principles

What it does

This bill relates to the acquisition of water, sanitary sewer, and storm water utilities, including required findings by the Iowa utilities commission (commission), the timeline to issue ratemaking principles, and the determination of applicable ratemaking principles. Under current law, a public utility is not allowed to acquire a water, sanitary sewer, or storm water utility with a purchase price of $3 million or more without commission approval. The bill removes the $3 million qualifier and requires the commission to find, in addition to current requirements, that the acquisition will not detrimentally affect ratepayers of either the utility to be acquired or the acquiring utility.

Senate subcommittee · named January 22, 2026

• Sen. Kara Warme (R) · kara.warme@legis.iowa.gov
• Sen. Matt Blake (D) · matt.blake@legis.iowa.gov
• Sen. Dawn Driscoll (R) · dawn.driscoll@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 3 for, 3 against

For: AARP Iowa; Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities; Iowa Rural Water Association

Against: Iowa American Water Co.; Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI); Iowa Utility Association

In plain words

1. January 22, 2026Filed in the Senate and sent to the Commerce committee
2. January 22, 2026Senate subcommittee named: Warme, Blake and Driscoll