For two years, we’ve been involved in research and study led by bi-partisan members of the Iowa legislature along with many of the state’s leading conservation, environmental, sportsmen, and agriculture advocates. IFU board member Marvin Shirley of Minburn has attended these meetings and given input from the viewpoint of family farmers.

Senate Joint Resolution 2002 reflects this committee’s unanimous recommendation for providing essential, stable state funding for natural resources.

This bill begins the process to amend Iowa’s constitution to guarantee that revenue generated by the next 3/8 of one cent increase in Iowa’s sales tax must be dedicated to protect and enhance:

o       Water quality,

o       Natural areas including parks and trails,

o       Fish and wildlife habitat, and

o       Conserving agricultural soils.

 This funding would be constitutionally protected in the “Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund.” The Fund must be audited annually and cannot be spent for any other purpose.

The trust fund would provide funds for the work of many state and local conservation agencies as well as non-profits.

It is important to understand what this legislation does and what it doesn’t do:

o       This bill DOES start the process to ensure that IF the legislature raises the sales tax, the first 3/8 of a cent must be dedicated to enhancing our state’s natural resources

o      This bill DOES NOT raise taxes, nor does it give voters the ability to raise the sales tax—only the legislature can do that. Even if this constitutional amendment is adopted, only the legislature can approve the sales tax increase that would be needed to provide funding

 If you’d like to support this measure, here’s what’s needed:

SJR 2002 passed the Senate Natural Resources and Environment Committee unanimously last week. It will soon be eligible for debate by the full Senate.

You can contact your state Senator now and ask for their vote. A sample note is below.

Please REPLY to this email to let us know if you contact your Senator and what response you receive. The coalition promoting this measure is trying to track results.
After passage by the Senate, the bill will be considered by the House Natural Resources Committee. The committee members are listed at http://www3.legis.state.ia.us/ga/committee.do?id=28 . You can contact them to express your support.

These are just first steps in a long process. If the measure passes the Iowa Legislature this year, it must also pass again next year and then approved by voters statewide before it becomes part of the Iowa constitution.

 To remain active in this process, please go to the Iowa Environmental Council website at http://www.iaenvironment.org:

–         Choose the “I-CALL” icon on the left navigation bar (blue), then “Join Our Action Network” to sign up for action alerts as the legislation progresses plus alerts on other conservation funding measures.

–         The I-CALL page also has a handy tool to help you identify and contact your Iowa senator and representative from your district.

 Continuing, fresh news on the progress of this legislation can be found at http://www.iaenvironment.org/conservationspending.php.

To see the text of SJR 2002, use the search function found at http://www.legis.state.ia.us under “Track Legislation.”

The link may take you directly to the bill’s text:

Sample note to your legislators:

Dear Senator/Representative,

Please support SJR 2002 to dedicate funding for Iowa’s natural resources. The bill was approved unanimously by the Senate Natural Resources and Environment Committee and soon will be eligible for debate in the Iowa Senate.

SJR 2002 creates a constitutionally protected Natural Resource and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund.

It is critical that Iowa improve its water quality, provide natural areas including parks and trails, protect fish and wildlife habitat and conserve precious soils.

For two years, a bipartisan committee created by the legislature that includes Iowa’s leading agriculture, outdoor, wildlife, and natural resources advocates studied needs and options. They unanimously recommend dedication of 3/8 cent of the next sales tax increase for Iowa’s natural resources.

This constitutional amendment is our promise to Iowans of healthier water quality and wildlife and a top-notch system of parks and trails.

Your support of this measure this year is critical.  This is so important to Iowa and our future — and so important to me as an Iowan.