ISA policy priorities move through first funnel

February 26, 2026 | Bethany Baratta

Several Iowa Soybean Association (ISA)-supported priorities passed through the first funnel deadline of Iowa’s 2026 legislative session last week.

To remain eligible for consideration, most bills must be approved by their assigned committees by this date. Bills dealing with taxes or state spending, which move through the Ways and Means or Appropriations committees, are exempt from this requirement.

Soy-based firefighting foam

An amended bill requiring Iowa (state) agencies to prioritize purchasing soy-based firefighting foam advanced out of the Senate Local Government Committee.

The bill, sponsored and submitted by Senator Scott Webster, supports a shift away from products containing PFAS and other fluorinated chemicals. The legislation directs the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) to develop specifications and procurement procedures for these certified biobased products, with allowances when products are unavailable, fail to meet performance standards, or exceed cost limits. Under the bill, DAS must create purchasing procedures for certified soybean-based, PFAS-free foams.

ISA supports this legislation and spoke in favor during the subcommittee, as it promotes a PFAS-free firefighting foam solution that utilizes Iowa-produced soy meal.

The soy foam bill advanced out of the Senate Local Government Committee with an amendment requiring local governments that oversee fire departments to adopt an ordinance by Jan. 1, 2027, determining whether they will purchase soybean-based firefighting foam.

Right to repair

ISA is registered in support of two right-to-repair bills. One focuses specifically on diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) systems, and the other addresses all types of agricultural equipment. ISA’s policy supports producers’ right to repair equipment and machinery.

Both right-to-repair bills have passed out of House committees and are now eligible for floor debate.

Mineral rights

A bill related to oil, gas, and hydrogen, industries would require notice and surface agreement offers was passed by subcommittee and committee this week. Most relevant to farmers, this bill requires these operators to compensate farm tenants for crop damage or reduced crop yields. Policy adopted by ISA farmer members supports compensation for crop damage or affected crop yields.

The next major funnel deadline is March 20, when bills must pass through their originating chamber to remain eligible for debate.

Federal update

The Iowa Soybean Association is also monitoring federal actions that have potential impact on Iowa soybean farmers, including the farm bill, crop protection tools and the impacts of a recent Supreme Court ruling regarding tariffs.

Farm bill 2.0 House Text

The House Agriculture Committee released text for the 2026 Farm Bill. It was originally planned to be considered in committee this week, but was delayed due to weather in the Northeast. It's scheduled to be considered in committee next week.

Key provisions in the farm bill draft important to soybean farmers include:

• Agriculture Labeling Uniformity Act: reaffirms federal pesticide labeling uniformity and prevents states from adopting inconsistent labeling or packaging, which would disrupt commerce and access to these vital crop protection tools.
• Producer and Agricultural Credit Enhancement (PACE) Act: increases the current limits on the Farm Service Agency’s ownership and operating loans. Specifically, FSA Guaranteed Operating Loans from $2.25 million to $3 million, increase Guaranteed Ownership Loans from $2.25 million to $3.5 million, increase Direct Operating Loans from $400,000 to $750,000, and increase Direct Ownership Loans from $600,000 to $850,000.
• Producing Responsible Energy and Conservation Incentives and Solutions for the Environment (PRECISE) Act: encourages greater adoption of precision agriculture technologies by increasing cost share, practice payments, and loan opportunities under existing USDA programs.
• Precision Agriculture Loan (PAL) Act: provides dedicated financing to enable more producers in agriculture to purchase and adopt precision agriculture technology through FSA loans.
• Plant Biostimulant Act: creates a uniform federal definition for plant biostimulants, establishes a consistent regulatory pathway to market, and promotes additional research into the benefits of biostimulant products on soil health and crop production.
• Food for Peace Transfer Bill: permanently transfer implementation and administration of Food for Peace from USAID to USDA. This maintains consistency by housing Food for Peace with USDA’s other international food aid programs.
• BioPreferred Program: expands demand from soy through federal purchases of bio-based products.

Executive order on glyphosate

President Donald Trump recently issued an executive order affirming that glyphosate, the most widely used crop protection tool in U.S. agriculture, is essential for national security. Through the Executive Order, President Trump invoked the Defense Production Act to classify glyphosate‑based herbicides and elemental phosphorus as critical to national defense. This action directs Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to prioritize securing and supporting domestic supplies of these materials.

Supreme Court IEEPA tariff ruling

The Supreme Court of the United States issued a ruling last week in the Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump case, which challenged President Trump’s usage of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), to impose sweeping tariffs on all U.S. trading partners.

In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that IEEPA authority does not give the executive branch the power to impose tariffs. The opinion, which was issued by Chief Justice John Roberts, overturned the sweeping “Liberation Day” tariffs imposed by the administration in April 2025 as well as the fentanyl tariffs imposed on Canada, China, and Mexico earlier that year. The opinion did not address the issue of refunding tariffs already paid by U.S. importers.

The administration is expected to now explore other authorities to reimpose tariffs, according to the American Soybean Association (ASA).

“The case at the Supreme Court has been closely followed by soybean farmers who have seen the cost of inputs rise over the past year due to tariffs. U.S. soybean growers are reliant upon imports for critical farming tools like fertilizer, seeds, pesticides, and agriculture equipment,” said Scott Metzger, ASA president and Ohio farmer. “Moving forward, certainty and dependable market access are essential for U.S. soy to remain competitive globally. Because farmers are caught in a cost-price squeeze and ag input costs remain high, we urge the president to refrain from imposing tariffs on agricultural inputs using other authorities.”

Megan Decker and Katie Hall contributed to this story.

Written by Bethany Baratta.

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