WHEREAS, the 2026 grain harvest has begun across Iowa;
WHEREAS, a Harvest Proclamation was issued on September 10, 2026 to allow the vehicular movement of overweight loads of certain specified products without such transporters being required to obtain an overweight permit.
WHEREAS, demand for diesel in the agricultural sector has been high;
WHEREAS, as of last week, the average retail price per gallon of diesel fuel exceeds $6.23 in Iowa and has climbed above $6.50 across the United States;
WHEREAS, President Trump today issued an Executive Order regarding emergency tax relief on diesel fuel which, among other things, defers certain diesel fuel tax obligations, including penalty relief in dyed diesel fuel through December 31, 2026, and requires governmental assessment of resource allocation for the inspection and sampling of fuel tanks;
WHEREAS, Iowa Code sections 452A.74 and 452A.74A(1) can create penalties for the use of dyed fuel in the supply tank of a motor vehicle, and Iowa Code sections 423.2(1), 423.5(1), and 452A.3(3) create tax obligations from the sale and use of such fuel;
WHEREAS, it is vital that motor vehicles be able to efficiently transport certain agricultural products on Iowa highways and public roads;
WHEREAS, strict compliance with Code sections 423.2(1), 423.5(1), 452A.3(3), 452A.74, and 452A.74A(1) would prevent, hinder or delay the ability of motor vehicles using dyed diesel fuel to transport certain agricultural products on Iowa highways and public roads and therefore suspension of these Code sections is necessary to cope with this emergency.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, KIMBERLY K. REYNOLDS, Governor of the State of Iowa, by the power and authority vested in me by Article IV, Sections 1 and 8 of the Iowa Constitution and Section 29C.6 of the Iowa Code, and all other applicable laws, do hereby proclaim a STATE OF DISASTER EMERGENCY for the entire state of Iowa and do hereby ORDER and DIRECT the following:
SECTION 1. Pursuant to Iowa Code § 29C.6(6), I temporarily suspend the regulatory provisions of Iowa Code sections 452A.74A and 452A.74A(1), to the extent that these provisions restrict the use of dyed diesel for highway transportation in motor vehicles hauling soybeans, corn, hay, straw, silage, stover, fertilizer (dry, liquid, and gas), manure (dry and liquid), and distillers grains and also temporarily suspend the regulatory provisions under Iowa Code sections 423.2(1), 423.5(1), and 452A.3(3) from the sale and use of such fuel for the same use.
SECTION 2. Suspension of these provisions applies to motor vehicles hauling loads of such products on all Iowa highways and public roads.
SECTION 3. This action is intended to allow motor vehicles transporting soybeans, corn, hay, straw, silage, stover, fertilizer (dry, liquid, and gas), manure (dry and liquid), and distillers grains to use dyed diesel fuel without penalties, but only for the duration of this proclamation.
SECTION 4. Nothing contained in this declaration shall be construed as an exemption from any other portion of the Iowa Code or Iowa Administrative Code not specifically identified in this proclamation.
SECTION 5. The Iowa Department of Public Safety is hereby directed to monitor the operation of this proclamation to assure the public’s safety and facilitate the movement of motor vehicles involved in our state’s harvesting season.
SECTION 6. The provisions of this proclamation shall be effective immediately and continue for one hundred twenty days and shall expire on February 2, 2027, unless sooner terminated or extended in writing by me.