2026 Legislative Recap

The 2026 Iowa Legislature adjourned on May 3. Throughout the session, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, along with numerous partners and supporters, worked to advocate for the land, water, and wildlife. Together, we forged connections with lawmakers, partners, and new voices to understand the ways that our natural resources impact our lives and communities. We learned from one another and identified opportunities for securing Iowa’s bright future. 

Parks, Trails and Wildlife Areas 

Iowa’s parks, trails, wildlife areas, and soil and water are at the core of creating healthy, vibrant communities. During this session, over 65 organizations came together to co-host the second annual Celebrate Iowa’s Outdoors Day at the Capitol and shine a light on the many ways nature serves Iowa. Coming together to acknowledge the value of nature in our lives builds the foundation for strong conservation policy and funding. 

Nature’s advocates helped maintain conservation tools and funding that allow for enhancement to parks, trails and wildlife areas as well as private land conservation. 

• Funding for Resource Enhancement & Protection (REAP) was secured at $12 million. 

• The State Recreational Trails Program was allocated $2.5 million. 

• The Charitable Conservation Contribution tax credit remains a viable option for landowners who make a donation of land or land value for permanent conservation.  

• No changes were made to the Forest Reserve Program that provides property tax exemption for fruit and forest reserves. 

Water Quality 

Late in the session, the legislature approved a proposal that reforms and bolsters water quality funding. The bill reallocates funding to help meet demand for the most oversubscribed programs and invests $319 million toward water quality over the next 12 years. The agriculture and natural resources budget also provides grant funding for real-time water quality monitoring that supports efficient implementation of conservation practices and infrastructure.

These water quality measures are a testament to the power of advocacy. Iowans care deeply about clean water, and the issue has earned the attention of state leaders. Please take a moment to thank your legislators for their support of clean water and encourage them to build on their commitment to water quality by funding the Natural Resources & Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund.  

Natural Resources & Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund 

This marks the sixteen legislative session in which the Trust Fund remains empty. Yet, as each year passes, the need for sustainable, reliable conservation funding is only reinforced. Created by Iowa voters for the purposes of “protecting and enhancing water quality and natural areas in this state including parks, trails, and fish and wildlife habitat, and conserving agricultural soils,” the Trust Fund hold the key to unlocking much of Iowa’s untapped potential. 

Human health, the preservation of natural resources and the economic stability of Iowa’s future are top priorities. And as we work together toward shared goals—growing our communities, attracting and retaining a talented workforce, addressing Iowa’s cancer crisis, protecting our agricultural and natural landscapes—the Trust Fund will be one of our greatest tools and solutions.  

Your advocacy matters. Thank you for lending a voice to nature. Let’s continue to build the momentum for investing in our land, water, wildlife and people. Join us in the effort to fund the Natural Resources & Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund.