(Iowa Capital Dispatch) Bills to prohibit cloud seeding in Iowa, raise the punishment for animal torture and require state prioritization of vehicles with biodiesel fuel capacities were sent to the Senate following House approval Thursday.
House File 2640 would prohibit the intentional emission of air contaminants for the purpose of “affecting the temperature, weather, climate or intensity of sunlight.”
The bill would prohibit geoengineering practices, or methods to reduce the impacts of climate change by releasing certain properties into the atmosphere. One form of geoengineering, called cloud seeding, involves the release of silver iodide crystals into certain types of clouds to trigger rain or snow.
The U.S. Government Accountability Office holds that while several states utilize cloud seeding technology, its benefits are “unproven.”
A similar bill has also advanced in the Senate, though the bills are not identical.
Rep. Sam Wengryn, R-Pleasanton, said the bill covers a part of law that is “not addressed.”
The House adopted an amendment that struck the first portion of the bill, which would have required public airports to submit regular reports on aircraft at the terminals with equipment that could emit weather-changing particles into the atmosphere.
The amendment also specified that the aerial application of agricultural inputs, like pesticides or fertilizers, would not be affected by the bill.
The amendment was supported by Rep. Ken Croken, D-Davenport, who said it was “based on support for our farmers and good science.”
Croken did not, however, support the bill as a whole.
“I believe this bill is not based in science or solves any particular problem of concern to the people of Iowa,” Croken said.
The bill passed with a vote of 59-26 along party lines.
Animal torture:
The House voted unanimously Thursday to pass House File 2348, which would elevate animal torture from an aggravated misdemeanor to a class “D” felony in Iowa.
The bill alters code to specify that someone is guilty of animal torture if they perform actions that intentionally crush, burn, drown, suffocate, impale or subject an animal to serious injury or death.
Class “D” felonies are punishable with up to five years confinement and fines of $1,025 to $10,245, according to the bill.
Rep. Samantha Fett, R-Carlisle, said the bill aligns Iowa standards “with every other state in the nation.”
“This bill closes a long=standing gap in Iowa’s laws, aligning us with federal standards and ensures the most heinous acts of cruelty carry meaningful consequences.”
Biodiesel engines and Capitol events
Another bill, passed from the House Thursday, would require that diesel engine passenger vehicles leased by the state be manufactured with the capacity to run high blends of biodiesel fuel.
House File 2671 provides that diesel engine vehicles rented or leased by the state must be capable of running on B-20, a blend with 20% biodiesel fuel, or higher blends. This brings biodiesel requirements for leased and rented vehicles in line with state requirements for purchasing diesel engine vehicles.
Rep. Jon Dunwell, R-Newton, said the bill aligned with Gov. Kim Reynolds’ 2019 executive order to support biodiesel fuels.
An amendment was added to the bill and adopted by the House to stop the Iowa Department of Administrative Services from limiting the number of events held at the state Capitol complex to one event.
Rep. Jeff Cooling, D-Cedar Rapids, said he supported the “original intent of the bill” related to the biodiesel industry, and noted the bill had “quite a few amendments” that were not at all related to biodiesel.
Cooling said he wished the bill contained a provision that vehicles purchased and leased by the state were made in the U.S., but said he was supportive of the bill overall.
HF 2671 passed with a vote of 85-1 with Rep. Mark Cisneros, R-Muscatine, as the sole no.
