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Iowa's Threatened and Endangered species list may be done away with, and only those on the federal list may be listed in the state if the current Senate File 344 passes. This is a large, complex bill with over 60 pages of text, affecting many laws and regulations in Iowa. The part affecting the T&E law is located in Division VI (Environmental Provisions), section 85, located on page 46, line 31. It would restrict the state list of Threatened and Endangered Species to federal species only. This would reduce the current list from 238 species to 13 species. In terms of plants only, the state T&E list would go from 153 species to 5 species. Those five species are Northern Wild Monkshood (Aconitum novaboracense), Mead's Milkweed (Asclepias meadii), Prairie Bushclover (Lespedeza leptostachya), Eastern Prairie Fringed Orchid (Platanthera leucophaea), and Western Prairie Fringed Orchid (Platanthera praeclara).

SF344 was voted out of the Business and Labor Relations Committee (introduced and approved on March 11) and is now open for debate on the full floor of the Senate.

Here is the bill section that applies:

46 31    481B.3  INVESTIGATIONS – STATE LIST.
 46 32    1.  The director shall conduct investigations on fish,
 46 33 plants, and wildlife in order to develop information relating
 46 34 to population, distribution, habitat needs, limiting factors,
 46 35 and other biological and ecological data to determine
 47  1 management measures necessary for their continued ability to
 47  2 sustain themselves successfully.  On the basis of these
 47  3 determinations and other available scientific and commercial
 47  4 data, which may include consultation with scientists and
 47  5 others who may have specialized knowledge, learning, or
 47  6 experience, the
 47  7    2.  The commission shall pursuant to chapter 17A promulgate
 47  8 a rule adopt rules listing those species of fish, plants, and
 47  9 wildlife which are determined to be endangered or threatened
 47 10 within the state.  The state list shall only include fish,
 47 11 plants, and wildlife which are included on the lists provided
 47 12 in section 481B.5, subsections 2 through 4.
 47 13    3.  The commission shall review the state list of
 47 14 endangered and threatened species at least every two years and
 47 15 may amend the list.
 47 16    Sec. 86.  Section 481B.5, subsection 1, Code 2003, is
 47 17 amended by striking the subsection.