This bill appropriates funds for the fiscal year 2025-2026 to various state government entities in Iowa, focusing on agriculture, natural resources, and environmental protection. The Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (DALS) is allocated $20,377,294 for various programs, including a new "Choose Iowa Food Purchasing Program" to assist food banks, while the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) receives $12,816,738 for groundwater protection and state park operations. The bill emphasizes accountability by requiring quarterly expenditure reports from both departments and ensures that existing funding levels for programs are not reduced due to new appropriations.

Key changes in the bill include the establishment of the Iowa Animal Disease Prevention Fund, which replaces the previous Brucellosis and Tuberculosis Eradication Fund, and the expansion of the foreign animal disease preparedness fund to enhance the state's response capabilities. It also allows for the use of unencumbered funds from previous fiscal years to remain available for designated purposes until the close of the succeeding fiscal year. Additionally, the bill specifies that funds from the Environment First Fund will be used for certain appropriations, and mandates that proceeds from the sale of state park properties be directed to the State Conservation Fund for specific uses, thereby promoting conservation and resource management across the state.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 99D.13, 187.331, 165.18, 163.3B, 163.3C, 163.15, 164.4, 164.21, 331.559