(DES MOINES, Iowa) Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has signed a water quality bill into law, which provides nearly $300 million for water quality efforts over the next 12 years.
Senate File 512: an Act relating to water quality by amending the wastewater treatment financial assistance program, creating a water quality infrastructure fund, establishing a water quality financing program, providing for cost-share programs for infrastructure on agricultural and urban land under the water quality initiative, creating a water service excise tax and a related sales tax exemption, making transfers and appropriations and other changes properly related to water quality, and including effective date provisions.
“I am proud that the first piece of legislation I signed as governor was a water quality bill,” Gov. Reynolds said. “This law is a significant step in the right direction and should ignite a continuing conversation as we work to make a positive impact on water quality in Iowa.”
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey issued the following statement regarding Gov. Reynolds signing of the water quality bill.
“Governor Reynolds’ strong leadership has been critically important to helping get this bill passed and I want to thank her for all her hard work. It is great that this bipartisan legislation that addresses such an important issue in the state is the first bill that she signed into law as Governor.
I also want to again thank the House and Senate leadership for this commitment to this issue and we look forward to continuing the conversation with legislators as we scale up our water quality work across the state,
This legislation is a significant boost as we continue our work on this important issue. We are excited to build on the strong foundation that has been established as we expand our collaborative, science-based efforts to achieve the water quality goals we all share."