H-1119

   Amend House File 851 as follows:
   1.  Page 7, after line 20 by inserting: 
   <Sec. ___.  DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND LAND STEWARDSHIP —— CHOOSE IOWA FOOD PURCHASING PILOT PROJECT FOR SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS OR FOOD BANKS AND IOWA EMERGENCY FEEDING ORGANIZATIONS.
   1.  There is appropriated from the general fund of the state to the department of agriculture and land stewardship for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026, the following amount, or so much thereof as is necessary, to be used for the purposes designated:
   For purposes of supporting a choose Iowa food purchasing pilot project to assist eligible participants in purchasing qualified food products:
   ...................................................................... $  3,000,000

   2.  Except as provided in subsection 3, the department shall administer the pilot project based on the farm-to-school program described in chapter 190A, in which the department reimburses a school or school district for the purchase of a food product originating from a farm source.
   3.  The department shall administer the pilot project according to all of the following:
   a.  A farm or business that owns or operates the farm source shall be given a preference to participate in the pilot project if the farm or business is currently participating in the choose Iowa promotional program as provided in chapter 159, subchapter II, part 2, Code 2024. Otherwise, a farm or business may participate in the pilot project if the farm or business has applied to participate in the choose Iowa promotional program and the department determines that the application will be approved.
   b.  An eligible participant is limited to any of the following:
   (1)  A public or private school or a school district, if the public or private school or school district is not currently participating in the farm-to-school program.
   (2)  An Iowa food bank or an Iowa emergency feeding organization, recognized by the department.
   c.  A qualified food product is limited to the following:
   (1)  For a school or school district, meat and poultry, dairy products other than milk, eggs, honey, and produce.
   (2)  For an Iowa food bank or Iowa emergency feeding organization, meat and poultry, dairy products, eggs, honey, and produce.
   d.  The department is not required to follow a requirement in chapter 190A that the department determines is not practical for the pilot project.
   4.  An eligible participant shall be reimbursed on a matching basis with the department contributing $1 for every $1 expended by the eligible participant.
   5.  The department may use not more than 5 percent of the moneys appropriated in subsection 1 to pay for the costs of administering the pilot project.
   6.  Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys appropriated in subsection 1 for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the close of the fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available for expenditure for the purposes designated in subsection 1 until the close of the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2027.
   7.  The department shall prepare and submit a report regarding its findings and recommendations to the governor and general assembly not later than January 15, 2026.>
   2.  Title page, line 8, after <programs,> by inserting <and making appropriations>
   3.  By renumbering as necessary.

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SCHEETZ of Linn