Lawmakers are asking: Should Iowa ag and natural resource departments merge?

By: Cami Koons

Outlets: Iowa Capital Dispatch

Published: February 12, 2026

Words: 353

Last Updated: 2 weeks, 6 days ago

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A bill advanced from an Iowa House subcommittee Thursday that would require a study on combining the state Department of Natural Resources and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

House File 2042, which would have the Department of Management conduct the study, was opposed by environmental and conservation groups worried that combining the departments would hinder the enforcement responsibilities currently given to DNR.

“The two entities you’re trying to merge have some …

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