Governor Kim Reynolds signed Senate File 512 into law this week, which aims to improve funding for Iowa’s water quality initiatives.

State Senator Ken Rozenboom is chair of the Natural Resources Committee and serves on the Agriculture committee, and was floor manager of the bill when it passed in 2017. Rozenboom is pleased the legislation has passed, and believes it will provide a boost to nutrient runoff reduction strategies throughout the state.

Opponents of the bill have argued the bill appropriates too little money, takes funds from the wrong sources and doesn’t require enough monitoring.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey said in a release that the passing of SF 512 will provide nearly $300 million for water quality efforts over the next 12 years.