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Read. Follow. Verify.Iowa Senate Bill 585 modifies energy system ratemaking, transmission rules, revolving loans, and anaerobic digester regulations
Last action · April 16, 2025: Subcommittee reassigned: Lundgren, James, Judge, Nordman and Vondran. H.J. 948 .
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What This Bill Would Do
Senate File 585 modifies for electric generation, energy storage, and transmission facilities; authorizes public utility innovation tariffs; updates land restoration standards for high-voltage transmission lines; restructures the energy and water infrastructure revolving loan program; and establishes comprehensive construction, permit, and environmental regulations for s.
The measure alters how utility rates and infrastructure investments are approved, establishes strict environmental and construction rules for livestock manure digesters and agricultural land restoration, and expands financial loan eligibility for local energy and water projects.
- Iowa utilities and energy markets are regulated by the Utilities Commission, which oversees electric and gas ratemaking principles and facility certificates. context
- The state's revolving loan programs for energy and infrastructure previously operated under the administration of the Iowa Energy Center before legislative restructuring. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Rate-regulated public utilities
Utilities are subject to new ratemaking application criteria, resource planning schedules, and requirements for proposing innovative utility tariffs.
Agricultural landowners
Landowners are impacted by mandatory land restoration standards, drain tile repair requirements, and separation distance rules for transmission lines and anaerobic digester systems.
Anaerobic digester system owners
Owners must obtain construction permits regardless of facility size, submit operation and digestate disposal plans, and maintain daily records of added materials.
Public power utilities
Public power utilities are offered opportunities to jointly own portions of high-voltage transmission lines equal to at least their load ratio share.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What facilities qualify for advance ratemaking principles under Division I?
What are the rules for nonmanure materials in anaerobic digester systems?
Who is eligible to receive financial assistance from the energy and water infrastructure revolving loan fund?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently passed chamber. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Law.
Procedural history
21 actions- Apr 16, 2025HouseSubcommittee reassigned: Lundgren, James, Judge, Nordman and Vondran. H.J. 948 .
- Mar 31, 2025Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee recommends passage.
- Mar 27, 2025SenateSubcommittee Meeting: 03/31/2025 1:30PM Senate Lounge.
- Mar 18, 2025HouseSubcommittee: Lundgren, Judge, Nordman, Scheetz and Vondran. H.J. 720 .
- Mar 12, 2025SenateSubcommittee: Bousselot, Knox, and Warme. S.J. 507 .
- Mar 11, 2025SenateCommitteeReferred to Appropriations. S.J. 480 .
Show 15 earlier actions
- Mar 10, 2025SenateCommittee report, approving bill. S.J. 470 .
- Mar 10, 2025SenateIntroducedIntroduced, placed on calendar. S.J. 462 .
- Mar 7, 2025HouseIntroducedIntroduced, referred to Ways and Means. H.J. 559 .
- Mar 7, 2025Iowa LegislatureCommittee report approving bill, renumbered as HF 834 .
- Mar 6, 2025Iowa LegislatureCommittee report approving bill, renumbered as SF 585 .
- Feb 18, 2025HouseCommittee vote: Yeas, 16. Nays, 6. Excused, 1. H.J. 352 .
- Feb 18, 2025HouseCommittee report, recommending amendment and passage. H.J. 352 .
- Feb 17, 2025Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee recommends passage.
- Feb 13, 2025Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee recommends passage.
- Feb 12, 2025Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee Meeting: 02/13/2025 11:00AM Room 315.
- Feb 11, 2025Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee: Bousselot, Klimesh, Knox, Wahls, and Warme.
- Feb 11, 2025Iowa LegislatureIntroducedIntroduced, referred to Commerce.
- Feb 11, 2025Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee Meeting: 02/17/2025 12:00PM RM 103.
- Feb 5, 2025HouseSubcommittee: Lundgren, Judge and Young. H.J. 184 .
- Feb 5, 2025HouseIntroducedIntroduced, referred to Commerce. H.J. 182 .
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Expansion of Loan Program Scope
The bill renames and expands the energy infrastructure revolving loan fund to explicitly include water infrastructure projects supporting economic development.
Establishment of Unified Anaerobic Digester Regulations
Enacts Chapter 459C to establish dedicated construction permits, distance requirements, and operational rules for anaerobic digester systems superseding conflicting chapters.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.legis.iowa.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy60Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz45Current news / social attention level
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