Iowa packaging and PFAS bills

What it would do: Requires the department to establish a master contract for fire fighting foam with the highest soybean-based content and no perfluoroalkyl, polyfluoroalkyl substances, or fluorine components. Requires local governments with fire department authority to pass an ordinance by January 1, 2027, deciding whether to purchase soybean-based fire fighting foam.

What it would do: Requires the department to develop procedures for purchasing soybean-based fire fighting foam without perfluoroalkyl, polyfluoroalkyl, or fluorine components, and to give preference to such products unless unavailable, unable to meet fire protection standards, or costs exceed 105 percent of comparable foam.

What it would do: Expands the definition of beverage under Iowa's bottle bill to include noncarbonated soft drinks packaged in metal cans that are in liquid form and intended for human consumption, making such containers redeemable for refund value.

What it would do: Requires a waste water treatment plant to test sewage sludge for perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances before providing it for application on farmland, and to notify the landowner of positive test results, allowing the owner to refuse the sewage sludge without legal consequence.

What it would do: Prohibits municipalities and fire departments from purchasing fire fighter equipment on or after July 1, 2026, unless the equipment contains a permanently affixed label indicating whether it contains perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

What it would do: Expands the definition of beverage subject to container deposit requirements to include noncarbonated water and all nonalcoholic carbonated or noncarbonated drinks, while excluding unflavored rice milk, unflavored soy milk, milk, and dairy-derived products. Effective July 1, 2027.

What it would do: Repeals Iowa's beverage container deposit program in two phases: immediately eliminates the requirement that dealers charge consumers a 5-cent refund value, and six months later repeals remaining provisions allowing consumers to redeem containers and distributors to collect handling fees.

What it would do: Authorizes counties and cities to adopt ordinances imposing fees for providing single-use plastic bags at point of sale, and excludes single-use plastic bags from the definition of consumer merchandise subject to state preemption.

What it would do: Prohibits manufacturing, selling, and distributing food packaging, firefighting foam, firefighting personal protective equipment, and certain consumer products containing intentionally added perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances starting January 1, 2026, with limited exceptions. Requires manufacturers to submit product information to the director by January 1, 2026.