Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to a statewide urban design and specifications board, including assessment of costs for local government projects that do not comply with the board’s design or specifications manuals
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 16, 2026
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 16, 2026
- Done: Senate committeeFebruary 18, 2026
- Skipped: Passes the SenateContinued as SF 2394
- Next: House committee
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Became SF 2394 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to SF 2394 What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary Iowa will create a new statewide board to set design standards for urban construction projects. This board will include members from the Department of Transportation and other groups to create and update manuals for public improvements. If a city or county approves a project that does not follow these rules, they must pay for any extra costs caused by the mistake instead of charging the property owner.1
Read the official explanation
_____ the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. This bill establishes the statewide urban design and specifications board (SUDAS board) within the department of transportation (DOT). The SUDAS board is required to develop statewide urban design standards and specifications (SUDAS), which may include soliciting recommendations from the institute for transportation at Iowa state university. Currently, the institute maintains Iowa’s SUDAS manuals for public improvements. The bill provides for members from the DOT and various nongovernment entities to serve as members on the SUDAS board. The SUDAS board is required to publish on the DOT’s internet site a design manual and a specifications manual, along with an analysis of any changes to the SUDAS manuals, and provide an estimate of expected cost variations that are likely to be incurred, if any, by implementing the changes. A SUDAS board member’s regular term of appointment is four years, and a vacancy must be filled for the unexpired portion of the term in the same manner as the original appointment.5. The bill requires a county or city that approves a project plan that does not comply with the SUDAS manuals to pay any additional costs for projects resulting from the noncompliance. A property owner cannot be assessed any costs relating to projects on or adjacent to the owner’s property that result from the county’s or city’s noncompliant plan.
Changed since by amendments S-5064, H-8126; see Amendments.
Senate subcommittee
Named February 16, 2026. On February 18, 2026 it recommended amendment and passage.
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Fiscal note
AI summary This bill creates a Statewide Urban Design and Specifications Board within the Department of Transportation to develop statewide design standards. The Department of Transportation expects to spend an estimated $231,000 annually for two new positions, while the Institute for Transportation at Iowa State University anticipates a loss of $450,000 in revenue and a reduction in expenses of $125,000 per year.3
From the note: 0 FTE positions at an estimated $231,000 annually to administer the program. In addition, the ISU Institute for Transportation is anticipating a loss of revenue totaling $450,000 due to the DOT administering SUDAS and will reduce expenses for administrative support by $125,000 per year.
- Statewide Urban Design and Specifications Board · March 4, 2026 · $450,000
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91st General Assembly