(Des Moines) Today, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds released the following three bills to House and Senate leadership:
One of those is the Foreign Ownership of Land: This bill builds on Iowa’s already strong laws by enhancing registration and reporting requirements with the Secretary of State’s office, enhancing enforcement action through the Attorney General’s Office, and increasing penalties for nefarious actors.
“As I traveled across the state, farmers and concerned Iowans have expressed the need for tougher legislation, and I agree. Iowa has been a leader with one of the country’s toughest foreign land ownership laws being enacted back in the seventies,” said Gov. Kim Reynolds. “Allowing foreign adversaries to undermine the agricultural dominance of our farmers only makes America weaker. American farmland should remain in American hands.”
Another is Rules: Requires that each rule undergoes a cost-benefit analysis before it is first enacted and establishes a five-year sunset on all rule chapters unless they undergo a regular comprehensive evaluation to determine their necessity and effectiveness.
The third bill is ESG: Protects Iowa’s public funds by prohibiting contracting with investment firms that elevate social issues over financial returns.
Iowa lawmakers are in the middle of the third week of the 2024 session.
