This week in Iowa organizing…
Well, winter let us know it wasn't over yet this weekend. I hope all of you, especially those of you in the north and east part of the state, stayed safe, warm, and off the roads.
At least the sun is back out today, and spring is around the corner. So is the next legislative funnel at the statehouse, so let's get to it. Read on for more,
Matthew Covington
Strategic Operations Director
At the Statehouse
This Friday marks the next deadline where bills not related to spending must pass a chamber (House or Senate) AND a corresponding committee in the other chamber to remain alive for consideration. Here's where key bills we're tracking sit:
The CO2 pipeline elephant in the room:
HF 2104: would have banned the use of eminent domain for CO2 pipelines. But Senate Majority Leader Mike Klimesh pulled a bait-and-switch and amended the bill to mirror language of SF 2067. This amendment removes the ban on eminent domain and puts more Iowans at risk of harassment from Summit by extending the 'voluntary easement corridor' to 5 miles on each side of the proposed pipeline route.
The bill is funnel proof but must be acted upon by March 30 to stay alive. Take a moment to email your Senator here and demand they only vote for the original HF 2104, and reject Sen. Klimesh's gift to Rastetter's Summit Carbon boondoggle.
Close to the finish line:
BAD:
HF 2527 / SF 2427: would limit the ability to sue Big Ag for greenhouse gas emissions. Eligible for debate by the Senate, would go to Governor's desk if passed.
Passed the House, in the Senate's hands:
The bad:
HF 2711: would remove several affirmative action and equal opportunity measures currently required under Iowa state law. Eligible for consideration by Senate Judiciary committee.
HF 2296: would take local control away from municipalities by prohibiting them from issuing Community IDs to their residents. Eligible for consideration by Senate Local Government committee.
HF 989 concerns anaerobic digesters, which encourages expanding CAFOs (they need more and more manure to remain operational) and do not get rid of nitrates and phosphorus. Check out this guest column on the issue from CCI member Kim Hagemann. Revived from 2025, assigned to Senate Agriculture committee.
Awaiting floor debate in the House, must be sent to Senate and pass committee to survive March 20 deadline:
The good:
HF 2690: would require data centers to submit regular reports on their water and energy use, and to not pass their water/energy usage costs onto other customers.
HF 2709: would allow farmers the "right to repair." Read more on this from Iowa Farmers Union president Aaron Lehman here.
The bad:
HF 2530: would prevent the DNR from adding a waterway to an impaired water list until they can ID what kind of animal contributed to fecal bacteria levels. Send a quick email to your Representative with our action alert here.
Funnel proof:
SF 2269: funds the Iowa Water Quality Information System at $500,000 for fiscal year 2026-27. Assigned to Senate Appropriations committee, no subcommittee scheduled.
HF 2687: would provide funding to retrofit up to 100 existing private wells with groundwater monitoring equipment, more than doubling the approximately 60 wells currently monitoring our groundwater. Referred to House Appropriations committee
A reminder you can find your legislators and their contact information here. And consider joining us for our next (possibly final) lobby day of the year on April 1 - RSVP here. This is when lawmakers will be digging in on state budgets and other spending bills - let's remind them that public money should be used for the public good!
Take action
March 26: CCI water testing returns
Time to start thinking about testing water with Iowa CCI and Nitrate Watch. It's our THIRD year of this partnership program. The spring rains are coming so it’s GO time for the new season!
If you are interested and don't have a test kit, click here to order one. If you have a test kit, check the expiration date on the bottle and order a new one if needed. Over 70 kits have been requested so far this month!
Our first monthly Zoom meeting is Thursday, March 26 at 5pm. Mark your calendar and click here to register.
Details about the program are available here. Thanks for caring about Iowa's water quality!
March 31: Public School Strong strategy session
In the last 10 years, the Governor and state legislature have underfunded our schools by passing a paltry state supplemental aid rate (SSA) of just 2% on average, not enough to keep up with inflation. They are asking our schools to do more and more with less and less and we are at a breaking point.
Imagine if we had 100 districts pass our Public School Strong resolution to help set the stage for the November elections and 2027 legislative session? Join us over Zoom on Tues, March 31 to learn about the campaign and how to expand it by bringing it to your district.
Upcoming rallies, mobilizations, trainings
No Kings will hold another round of mobilizations on March 28 in response to the Trump administration's ongoing attacks on Americans, our democratic institutions, and more. Find the event closest to you here.
Virtual ICE and community defense trainings:
Ongoing: States at the Core (SATC): ICE Watch & Community Defense trainings
What We're Reading
These are a few links that are informing our work - we've shared them so that you can read, too!
Hold Iowa private schools to same standards as public (by CCI member Dr. Pam Vogel) [Des Moines Register]
Republican farm bill criticized as agribusiness giveaway: 'Pesticide industry wishlist' [The Guardian]
Millions of Americans skip meals, stretch medication to afford health care [CBS News]
Gov. Reynolds faces questions as cuts threaten Iowa water quality tracking system [KCCI]
Iowa's monoculture is killing us (by CCI member Nick Covington) [Bleeding Heartland]