(Des Moines) Lawmakers in a House Ways and Means Committee Wednesday advanced a bill, and uttered a number of bee-related puns, to exempt the sale of honeybees from state sales tax.
The bill would bring honeybees in line with the tax protocol of other livestock, which are exempt from state sales tax.
Richard Vonderohe, a beekeeper in Mason City and president of the North Iowa Beekeepers Club, said the bill would help beekeepers, — especially those who have suffered from bee losses over the winter.
Commercial beekeepers lost on average 62% of their colonies from June 2024 to January 2025, according to results from a survey of beekeepers, administered by Project Apis m. and other bee industry groups.
Project Apis called it the largest honeybee loss recorded in the country, and estimated the economic impact, caused by lost revenue and the cost of replacing colonies, to be $600 million on beekeepers. The broader economic impact could be even greater, as honeybees are responsible for pollinating $15 billion worth of U.S. crops, annually, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Researchers are uncertain what is causing the losses, though many, including Vonderohe, wonder if commercial pesticide use is to blame. Honeybee colonies can also be harmed by parasites, disease and starvation.
“I’ve had enough losses,” Vonderohe said. “We need help with our bees.”
Rep. Mike Vondran, R-Dubuque, called House File 247 the “sweetest bill” of the day. He said exempting honeybees from the state tax has a fiscal note of less than $20,000 annually.
“But it’ll really do a lot with regard to helping spur on a growing industry in the state of Iowa,” Vondran said.
Rep. Lindsay James, D-Dubuque, supported the bill that she said has had “lots of buzz.”
According to USDA report from March, Iowa has around 41,000 honeybee colonies, though this number is likely higher as USDA only reports on producers with five colonies or more.
HF 247, called a “bee-utiful bill” by Vondran in his closing remarks, passed unanimously from the committee and is now eligible for floor debate.
More than just honeybees
There are more than 4,000 native bee species in the country and according to the U.S. Geological Survey, bees are the primary pollinators for the majority of agricultural crops.
While they won’t get any honey out of the deal, Iowans have an opportunity this summer to engage with native bee populations as part of a national survey project.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is seeking participants in its second Bumble Bee Atlas and will host online trainings April 19 and May 10.
The citizen science project aims to identify the bumblebee species of Iowa, where they’re located and their preferences in flowers.
Last year, participants conducted nearly 150 surveys and identified 10 bumblebee species. The brown-belted bumblebee was the most common species identified last year and DNR estimates there are more species to be found in Iowa.
Participants need a net, cellphone or other camera, bee-holding container, a cooler and about 45-minutes to dedicate to catching and identifying bees. Those interested can register online.
Twenty states participate in the Bumble Bee Atlas and collectively have observed 36 species of bumble bees and engaged more than 4,000 citizen scientists.
Richard Vonderohe displays a rack from a bee box at the Iowa Capitol on Iowa Honeybee Day, March 26, 2025. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch)
