Iowa House Bill HF2727

Iowa 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/26/26
• Refer: 2/26/26

Caption

A bill for an act providing for the reporting of certain information relating to the sale of fertilizers, providing penalties, making penalties applicable, and including effective date provisions.

Summary

HF 2727 would require fertilizer manufacturers that are licensed in Iowa and sell registered fertilizer brands in the state to submit monthly pricing reports to the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (DALS). The reports would have to include pricing information for the active ingredients used in each brand, total quantities sold in Iowa, the lowest and highest prices charged for each brand, and the terms of any discounted-sale agreements with customers. The bill also directs DALS to establish rules for administering the reporting requirement and to create a civil penalty schedule for violations. A manufacturer that fails to comply could face an administratively imposed civil penalty of up to $50,000 per violation, with each day of noncompliance treated as a separate offense. The bill is effective upon enactment and authorizes emergency rulemaking so the department can implement it immediately.

Impact

The bill would add a new reporting mandate to Iowa Code chapter 200 governing fertilizers, expanding DALS oversight beyond existing licensing, registration, labeling, and enforcement provisions. It would create a new statutory duty for manufacturers to disclose monthly pricing and sales information, and it would give DALS, working with the attorney general, authority to assess and collect civil penalties for noncompliance. The measure would affect fertilizer manufacturers, distributors, and potentially customers whose pricing arrangements are reflected in the reports.

Sentiment

The available record shows the bill was introduced and referred to the House Agriculture Committee, but there are no recorded committee transcripts or votes in the provided materials. As a result, there is no documented public debate or formal vote history here to indicate support or opposition. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears regulatory and enforcement-oriented rather than controversial in tone, but the absence of discussion means sentiment cannot be reliably gauged from the record provided.

Contention

The main point of potential contention is the scope of the reporting requirement, especially the obligation to disclose pricing, quantities sold, and discounted-sale terms for registered fertilizer brands. Manufacturers may view this as burdensome or as requiring disclosure of commercially sensitive information, while the department would likely see it as necessary for oversight and enforcement. Another likely issue is the size of the penalty—up to $50,000 per violation, with each day counted separately—which could be viewed as substantial and punitive. No specific objections or supporters are identified in the provided transcripts or vote history.