The bill amends Section 137F.6 of the Iowa Code to establish a new schedule for annual license fees for food processing plants. The revised fee structure categorizes plants into two groups: a general category and a specific category for those processing meat or poultry on a farm or private residence. For the general category, the fees are set at $150 for annual gross sales of less than $200,000, $300 for sales between $200,000 and $2 million, and $500 for sales of $2 million or more. In contrast, the specific category for plants operating on farms or private residences will have a flat license fee of $75.

This bill replaces the previous fee structure, which had a more complex tiered system with four steps based on gross sales. The changes aim to simplify the licensing process and provide clearer guidelines for food processing plants regarding their annual fees. The bill reflects a legislative effort to streamline regulations while still ensuring that fees are proportionate to the scale of operations.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 137F.6