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- Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Announces Record Number of Iowa Fuel Stations Receive Biofuels Grants
- On Thursday, April 10, 2025, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) issued a press release in which Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced that the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP) Board recently approved 114 project applications from Iowa gas stations, totaling more than $2.88 million, for new and expanded ethanol and biodiesel infrastructure projects. This sets a new quarterly record for the number of investments in biofuels projects. These investments help drivers save more money by providing expanded access to lower cost and cleaner burning homegrown biofuels. The grants were awarded by the RFIP Board during its quarterly meeting at the end of March. New ethanol fueling infrastructure will be funded with the help of 112 RFIP cost-share grants for E15 projects totaling $2,733,943.66 at gas stations in 44 Iowa counties. The board also approved two biodiesel cost-share grants – one for retail and one for terminal storage – totaling $150,000.
- A complete list of state RFIP funded ethanol and biodiesel projects, sorted by county, can be found here.
- These state funded grants are in addition to the federal Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) grants recently announced by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins during her visit to Iowa last week. HBIIP funding will incentivize 543 projects, totaling $537 million in 29 states, including Iowa. The grant announcements come at a time when biofuels usage continues to build momentum in Iowa, with E15 sales hitting another record in 2024. The Iowa Department of Revenue announced on April 3 that sales of E15 grew by 44 percent over 2023 sales, which had also been the previous yearly record. With 256.7 million gallons of E15 sold in Iowa in 2024 at an average discount of 15 cents per gallon compared to E10, Iowa drivers saved over $38.5 million last year by choosing E15 at the pump. Last year also represented a record year for the sale of B20 and higher blends of biodiesel, demonstrating that homegrown renewable energy continues to be popular when made available to consumers.
- These investments are helping more gas stations come into compliance with the E15 Access Standard, which goes into full effect on Jan. 1, 2026. Iowa is the first state to enact an E15 Access Standard, which requires most fuel retailers and gas stations to offer E15 by Jan. 1, 2026. The law was passed by the Iowa Legislature and signed by Governor Reynolds in 2022. For those convenience stores and gas stations that need assistance coming into compliance, IDALS can provide cost-share funding through the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program. Since the grant program began in 2006, the Department has invested approximately $56.6 million toward expanding renewable fuels infrastructure within Iowa. This has been matched with more than $260 million by Iowa gas stations and fuel retailers. With cost-share funding available, the IDALS welcomes grant applications to assist more fuel stations in improving and upgrading infrastructure. Applications are available at iowaagriculture.gov/IRFIP , and will be considered by the RFIP Board at an upcoming quarterly meeting.
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- Bill Establishing Center for Intellectual Freedom Sent to the Governor’s Desk
- On Tuesday, the Senate passed the House Higher Education bill (HF 437) requiring the University of Iowa to create a Center for Intellectual Freedom. The bill now awaits signature from the Governor. The bill establishes a Center for Intellectual Freedom as an independent academic center that shall conduct teaching and research in historical ideas, traditions, and texts that have shaped the American constitutional order and society.
The center will provide scholarship in all of the following:
- The texts and major debates that form the intellectual foundation of free societies, especially that of the United States.
- The principles, ideals, and institutions of the American constitutional order.
- The foundations of responsible leadership and informed citizenship.
- The center shall offer university-wide programming related the values of free speech and civil discourse and shall work to do all of the following:
- Expand the intellectual diversity of the university’s academic community.
- Foster civic engagement among university students and faculty.
- Coordinate with the center for cyclone civics at ISU and the Center for Civic Education at UNI to enable academic offerings that may be offered to students at any of the Regents institutions either in person or online.
- The center may offer courses; develop certificate, minor, and major programs as well graduate programs; and offer degrees. This center shall offer at least one three-semester credit hour course in American history and civil government.
- This is a great step forward for students who seek an unbiased knowledge and merit based education.
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- Recount Modernization Heads to the Governor
- In March, the House of Representatives passed a bill to create standard procedures for how election recounts are conducted across Iowa. This week the Senate passed House File 928, which would finally bring conformity in how recounts are conducted in Iowa. Currently a campaign can request a recount for any election and select to recount only certain precincts, in some counties, and decide for each whether it is a hand recount or a machine recount. HF 928 creates a known process for when and how recounts may be conducted following elections, eliminating uncertainty and protecting taxpayer money from frivolous recount requests.
- Under HF 928 a candidate may request a recount if the difference between the votes for the apparent winner and the candidate requesting the recount is less than 1% or 50 votes, whichever is lesser. For elections of federal and statewide offices, the threshold is set at 0.15%. If the apparent loser wishes to have a recount conducted, they have until the following Wednesday to submit a request to the Secretary of State who sends a copy to each county auditor where a vote was cast and instructs a recount to begin within 7 days.
- The recount board would now consist of the county auditor and their staff and if necessary, precinct election officials with equal representation from each political party. This change is designed to enhance the impartiality of the recount process. Additionally, the Secretary of State is now authorized to issue a civil penalty to a county auditor who is believed to be conducting a recount not in accordance with law and if necessary, halt and take possession of ballots and election equipment and conduct the recount.
- For state-wide offices, federal offices, and state-wide public measures recounts will be conducted by tabulation machines. State legislative races and local elections will be conducted by tabulation machines, unless there are extraordinary circumstances including machine failure, discrepancies between the results of the initial count and the initial recount, or the number of overvotes exceeding the difference between the candidates. If a hand recount is required all ballots cast for that office will be recounted.
- The bill revises the structure of the contest court for election disputes. In January of odd years, the Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court will establish a panel of five district court judges to ensure that election contests are handled by experienced judges who are known before election day and gives those judges time to study this issue before potentially needed.
- HF 928 will be sent to the Governor’s desk for her signature. This piece of legislation will provide campaigns, county auditors, and candidates a known process for when and how recounts may be conducted in Iowa to provide conformity and trust in the process.
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- REAL ID Enforcement Date Approaching: What Iowans Need to Know
- I know that some may have heard about the enforcement of something called the REAL ID. So, here I wanted to provide some details about the REAL ID:
- Starting on May 7, 2025, all travelers will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card or another acceptable document (like a passport) to board domestic commercial flights. A REAL ID will also be required to access certain federal buildings or enter nuclear facilities. If you need clarification about entry into federal facilities, we recommend contacting the specific federal facility directly before your visit.
You do NOT need a REAL ID to:
- Drive
- Vote
- Purchase alcohol or cigarettes
- Access hospitals
- Visit the post office
- Access federal courts
- Apply for or receive federal benefits such as social security or veterans’ benefits
- When to get a REAL ID:
Iowans who fly commercially or visit certain federal buildings should obtain a REAL ID soon to avoid any issues or delays after the May 7, 2025 enforcement date. Appointments are highly encouraged and can be scheduled through the Iowa DOT Service Selector (or go to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s website at IowaDOT.gov and search appointments).
- If you are not flying or visiting a federal facility that requires a REAL ID until later in the year, you can wait to get your REAL ID. We strongly recommend getting it two months in advance of when you need to use it.
- How to Check If You Have a REAL ID:
Check the upper-right corner of your driver’s license or ID. If there is a gold star, you have a REAL ID. If the upper-right corner is blank or reads “NOT FOR REAL ID ACT PURPOSES,” then your ID is not REAL ID-compliant. For examples, visit the Iowa DOT REAL ID page (or go to the DOT’s website at IowaDOT.gov and search REAL ID).
- Need a REAL ID? Here’s How to Get One:
To obtain a REAL ID-compliant credential, visit the Iowa DOT REAL ID website (or go to the DOT’s website at IowaDOT.gov and search REAL ID) for details on required documentation. This site will put together a checklist for you on the documents you need. To meet the federal requirements, just remember 1-1-2. You will need:
- 1 document that proves your identity and date of birth.
- 1 document that proves your social security number.
- 2 documents that prove Iowa residence and residential address.
- *Name change documents (if applicable, marriage certificate/divorce decree, etc.)
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| Senator Driscoll and I had the honor of welcoming students from Marion Avenue Baptist School! I enjoyed showing them around talking to them all about the work I am doing in Des Moines! |
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Contact Me
- I am so thankful to be your District 92 Representative and I am always looking to hear from you all! Please reach out to me at heather.hora@legis.iowa.gov
Have a great week! |
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