WEEK 16: 2021 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
State Update
The renewable fuel bill had another Senate subcommittee meeting on Thursday. Work on remaining legislation is slow progress and the legislators per diem for 2021 ended today.

THE GOVERNOR'S RENEWABLE FUEL BILL: HF 859/SF 549- MONITORING
  • HF 859 summary HERE
  • Amendment H 1387: includes 20 supporting signatures
  • Paustian, Klein, Gobble, Salmon, Bradley, Jeneary, Shipley, Jacobsen, Lohse, Wheeler, Mitchell, Westrich, Cisneros, Worthan, Best, Bacon, Kerr, Gerhold, Osmundson and Holt
  • Amendment H 1392: by Paustian
Modifies Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP) for retail sites:
  1. BIODIESEL INFRASTRUCTURE: Increase grant match to 70% of project cost OR $30,000 whichever is less, with a 5 year commitment: original language had a grant match of 50% OR $30k, with a 3 year commitment (the proposed change mimics the ethanol infrastructure plan)
  2. Eliminates repeal of this portion, originally set for July 2024
Modifies RFIP for terminals:
  1. Grants can fund biodiesel OR ethanol projects at terminals—originally only for biodiesel
  2. REMOVES $1.25 million maximum from the RFIP for these updates
  3. Caps grant limits to 50% of project cost (used to be capped at $30-50k)
  4. Adds language to allow for E1-E100 infrastructure incentives not to exceed 50% of project cost
  5. Eliminates the repeal of this portion, originally set for July 2024
  • Amendment H 1398: by Hein, moves implementation to 2026 (from 2028)
  • Creates a B11 standard/mandate in 2022
  • Creates an E10 standard/mandate in 2022
  • Creates an E15 standard/mandate in 2026
  • 60% of RFIP funds may go to existing infrastructure, 40% to under construction or new construction sites with priority to small retailers (those with 9 or less locations)
  • Modifies tax incentives on renewable fuels
  • Please reach out to your local legislators to tell them how this would impact your company

APPROPRIATIONS (BROADBAND GRANT FUNDS): HF 867- SUPPORT (voted out of the Senate with unanimous support and sent to the Governor's desk for signing)
  • Among other things, appropriates $100 million from state funds to broadband grant programs

OVERWEIGHT FLUID MILK PERMITS FOR INTERSTATE TRAVEL: HF 869- SUPPORT (Passed out of Senate with 46 yes votes- 1 no, Dickey)
  • Fluid milk has been deemed an indivisible load by the Federal Government and thus eligible to haul overweight on interstates
  • We're working with the Iowa State Dairy Association and Iowa DOT to create an annual permit for interstate travel up to 96,000 lbs.

CENTRAL FILING: SF 486- OPPOSE (No recent movement)
  • This bill is in Senate Ways & Means Committee and is funnel-proof this year and next
  • Introduced by the Iowa Bankers Assn and Wells Fargo
  • This bill would create a central filing system that all buyers (local sale barns, meat processors, lockers, grain buyers, grocers, etc.) would have to check before issuing payment to each farmer
  • It shifts the burden to buyers, increases the number of two-party checks and is not an improvement on our current system
  • Bank lobbyists say they want to move a paper system to electronic but have disregarded solutions that would allow for electronic/e-mail notifications through direct notice
  • Current bill registrations (all ag groups against, bankers support) HERE
Find your state legislators HERE
Want to reach your federal legislators?
D.C. office numbers below: 
Sen. Chuck Grassley: 202-224-4120
Sen. Joni Ernst: 202-224-3254
Rep. Ashley Hinson: 202-225-2911
Rep. Marianette Miller-Meeks: 202-225-6576
Rep. Cindy Axne: 202-225-5476
Rep. Randy Feenstra: 202-225-4426
STAY CONNECTED WITH IIC THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA
Katie P. Hall
Director of Government Affairs
khall@iowainstitute.coop
C: 712-269-9838