The bill amends existing water allocation laws in Iowa, specifically focusing on the definition and determination of "beneficial use" in the context of water permits. It removes the current definition of beneficial use, which is defined as the application of water to a useful purpose that benefits the user while prohibiting waste or pollution. Instead, the bill stipulates that the Department of Natural Resources will assess beneficial use on a case-by-case basis when evaluating applications for permits related to the diversion, storage, or withdrawal of water, and this assessment will not be based on predefined categories of use.

Additionally, the bill modifies the processing priority for permit applications, allowing the department to prioritize applications based on their order of receipt unless doing so would delay routine approvals or threaten public health, safety, or welfare. It establishes a timeline for the approval or denial of permit applications, requiring decisions within ninety days for new applications and thirty days for renewals, while also allowing for extensions if requested by the applicant. The bill emphasizes the importance of routine conservation practices and emergency measures in the permits granted.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 455B.261, 455B.265