This bill enhances the powers and duties of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (DALS) by introducing several key provisions aimed at promoting and regulating agricultural commodities and products. Notably, it establishes a "Choose Iowa" school purchasing program to reimburse schools for buying qualified food products from local farms and creates a "Butchery Innovation and Revitalization Program" to support the modernization of the butchery industry. The bill also amends the existing Choose Iowa program to include individuals involved in producing, processing, or marketing Iowa agricultural products, while eliminating the current farm-to-school program and removing the cap on reimbursements for food banks, renaming it the Choose Iowa food bank program.

Additionally, the bill addresses various regulatory aspects, including the verification and revision of state primary standards of weights and measures, and expands the scope of inspections by DALS. It increases the weight limit for vehicles transporting fluid milk products to 136,000 pounds and provides for the regulation of implements of husbandry to align with construction equipment standards. The bill also promotes agricultural tourism by allowing certain activities on farms without conditional use permits and expands liability protections for farms involved in tourism activities. Overall, the legislation aims to strengthen Iowa's agricultural sector, support local farmers, and ensure compliance with health and safety regulations.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 159A.16, 187.201, 187.301, 187.303, 190A.2, 190A.3, 190A.5, 190A.6, 187.331, 15E.370, 163.1, 22.7, 213.1, 215.1, 214.3, 215.1A, 215.14, 215.19, 215.23, 452A.40, 213.3, 321E.8, 673A.3, 335.2, 335.28