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HF533 • 2026

A bill for an act relating to the midwest interstate passenger rail compact, and including effective date provisions.(Formerly HSB 128 .)

A bill for an act relating to the midwest interstate passenger rail compact, and including effective date provisions.(Formerly HSB 128 .)

Technology
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC GROWTH AND TECHNOLOGY
Last action
2025-03-20
Official status
Subcommittee recommends passage.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

A bill for an act relating to the midwest interstate passenger rail compact, and including effective date provisions.(Formerly HSB 128 .)

A bill for an act relating to the midwest interstate passenger rail compact, and including effective date provisions.(Formerly HSB 128 .)

What This Bill Does

  • A bill for an act relating to the midwest interstate passenger rail compact, and including effective date provisions.(Formerly HSB 128 .)

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2025-03-20 Iowa Legislature

    Subcommittee recommends passage.

  2. 2025-03-19 Iowa Legislature

    Subcommittee Meeting: 03/20/2025 8:30AM Room 217 Conference Room.

  3. 2025-03-19 Iowa Legislature

    Explanation of vote. H.J. 751 .

  4. 2025-03-18 Iowa Legislature

    Subcommittee: Shipley, Bennett, and Lofgren. S.J. 567 .

  5. 2025-03-13 Iowa Legislature

    Read first time, referred to Transportation. S.J. 511 .

  6. 2025-03-13 Iowa Legislature

    Message from House. S.J. 511 .

  7. 2025-03-12 Iowa Legislature

    Immediate message. H.J. 635 .

  8. 2025-03-12 Iowa Legislature

    Passed House , yeas 95, nays 1. H.J. 627 .

  9. 2025-02-20 Iowa Legislature

    Introduced, placed on calendar. H.J. 381 .

Official Summary Text

A bill for an act relating to the midwest interstate passenger rail compact, and including effective date provisions.(Formerly HSB 128 .)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
House

File

533

-

Introduced

HOUSE

FILE

533

BY

COMMITTEE

ON

ECONOMIC

GROWTH

AND

TECHNOLOGY

(SUCCESSOR

TO

HSB

128)

A

BILL

FOR

An

Act

relating

to

the

midwest

interstate

passenger

rail

1

compact,

and

including

effective

date

provisions.

2

BE

IT

ENACTED

BY

THE

GENERAL

ASSEMBLY

OF

THE

STATE

OF

IOWA:

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Section

1.

NEW

SECTION

.

327K.1

Midwest

interstate

passenger

1

rail

compact.

2

The

midwest

interstate

passenger

rail

compact

is

enacted

3

into

law

and

entered

into

with

all

other

states

legally

joining

4

in

the

compact

in

substantially

the

following

form:

5

1.

Article

I

——

Statement

of

purpose.

The

purposes

of

this

6

compact

are,

through

joint

or

cooperative

action:

7

a.

To

promote

development

and

implementation

of

improvements

8

to

intercity

passenger

rail

service

in

the

midwest.

9

b.

To

coordinate

interaction

among

midwestern

state

elected

10

officials

and

their

designees

on

passenger

rail

issues.

11

c.

To

promote

development

and

implementation

of

long-range

12

plans

for

high-speed

rail

passenger

service

in

the

midwest

and

13

among

other

regions

of

the

United

States.

14

d.

To

work

with

the

public

and

private

sectors

at

the

15

federal,

state,

and

local

levels

to

ensure

coordination

among

16

the

various

entities

having

an

interest

in

passenger

rail

17

service

and

to

promote

midwestern

interests

regarding

passenger

18

rail.

19

e.

To

support

efforts

of

transportation

agencies

involved

20

in

developing

and

implementing

passenger

rail

service

in

the

21

midwest.

22

2.

Article

II

——

Establishment

of

commission.

To

further

the

23

purposes

of

the

compact,

a

commission

is

created

to

carry

out

24

the

duties

specified

in

this

compact.

25

3.

Article

III

——

Commission

membership.

26

a.

The

manner

of

appointment

of

commission

members,

terms

of

27

office

consistent

with

the

terms

of

this

compact,

provisions

28

for

removal

and

suspension,

and

manner

of

appointment

to

fill

29

vacancies

shall

be

determined

by

each

party

state

pursuant

to

30

its

laws,

but

each

commissioner

shall

be

a

resident

of

the

31

state

of

appointment.

Commission

members

shall

serve

without

32

compensation

from

the

commission.

33

b.

(1)

The

commission

shall

consist

of

four

resident

34

members

of

each

state

as

follows:

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(a)

The

governor

or

the

governor’s

designee

who

shall

1

serve

during

the

tenure

of

office

of

the

governor,

or

until

a

2

successor

is

named.

3

(b)

One

member

of

the

private

sector

who

shall

be

appointed

4

by

the

governor

and

shall

serve

during

the

tenure

of

office

of

5

the

governor,

or

until

a

successor

is

named.

6

(c)

Two

legislators,

one

from

each

legislative

chamber,

who

7

shall

serve

two-year

terms,

or

until

successors

are

appointed,

8

and

who

shall

be

appointed

by

the

appropriate

appointing

9

authority

in

each

legislative

chamber.

10

(2)

All

vacancies

shall

be

filled

in

accordance

with

the

11

laws

of

the

appointing

states.

A

commissioner

appointed

to

12

fill

a

vacancy

shall

serve

until

the

end

of

the

incomplete

13

term.

Each

member

state

shall

have

equal

voting

privileges,

as

14

determined

by

the

commission

bylaws.

15

4.

Article

IV

——

Powers

and

duties

of

the

commission.

16

a.

The

duties

of

the

commission

are

to:

17

(1)

Advocate

for

the

funding

and

authorization

necessary

to

18

make

passenger

rail

improvements

a

reality

for

the

region.

19

(2)

Identify

and

seek

to

develop

ways

that

states

can

20

form

partnerships,

including

with

rail

industry

and

labor,

to

21

implement

improved

passenger

rail

service

in

the

region.

22

(3)

Seek

development

of

a

long-term,

interstate

plan

for

23

high-speed

rail

passenger

service

implementation.

24

(4)

Cooperate

with

other

agencies,

regions,

and

entities

25

to

ensure

that

the

midwest

is

adequately

represented

and

26

integrated

into

national

plans

for

passenger

rail

development.

27

(5)

Adopt

bylaws

governing

the

activities

and

procedures

28

of

the

commission

and

addressing,

among

other

subjects:

the

29

powers

and

duties

of

officers;

and

the

voting

rights

of

30

commission

members,

voting

procedures,

commission

business,

31

and

any

other

purposes

necessary

to

fulfill

the

duties

of

the

32

commission.

33

(6)

Expend

such

funds

as

required

to

carry

out

the

powers

34

and

duties

of

the

commission.

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(7)

Report

on

the

activities

of

the

commission

to

the

1

legislatures

and

governors

of

the

member

states

on

an

annual

2

basis.

3

b.

In

addition

to

its

exercise

of

these

duties,

the

4

commission

may:

5

(1)

Provide

multistate

advocacy

necessary

to

implement

6

passenger

rail

systems

or

plans,

as

approved

by

the

commission.

7

(2)

Work

with

local

elected

officials,

economic

development

8

planning

organizations,

and

similar

entities

to

raise

the

9

visibility

of

passenger

rail

service

benefits

and

needs.

10

(3)

Educate

other

state

officials,

federal

agencies,

11

other

elected

officials,

and

the

public

on

the

advantages

12

of

passenger

rail

as

an

integral

part

of

an

intermodal

13

transportation

system

in

the

region.

14

(4)

Work

with

federal

agency

officials

and

members

of

15

Congress

to

ensure

the

funding

and

authorization

necessary

16

to

develop

a

long-term,

interstate

plan

for

high-speed

rail

17

passenger

service

implementation.

18

(5)

Make

recommendations

to

member

states.

19

(6)

If

requested

by

each

state

participating

in

a

particular

20

project

and

under

the

terms

of

a

formal

agreement

approved

21

by

the

participating

states

and

the

commission,

implement

or

22

provide

oversight

for

specific

rail

projects.

23

(7)

Establish

an

office

and

hire

staff

as

necessary.

24

(8)

Contract

for

or

provide

services.

25

(9)

Assess

dues,

in

accordance

with

the

terms

of

this

26

compact.

27

(10)

Conduct

research.

28

(11)

Establish

committees.

29

5.

Article

V

——

Officers.

The

commission

shall

annually

30

elect

from

among

its

members

a

chair,

a

vice

chair

who

shall

31

not

be

a

resident

of

the

state

represented

by

the

chair,

and

32

others

as

approved

in

the

commission

bylaws.

The

officers

33

shall

perform

such

functions

and

exercise

such

powers

as

are

34

specified

in

the

commission

bylaws.

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6.

Article

VI

——

Meetings

and

commission

administration.

The

1

commission

shall

meet

at

least

once

in

each

calendar

year

and

2

at

such

other

times

as

may

be

determined

by

the

commission.

3

Commission

business

shall

be

conducted

in

accordance

with

the

4

procedures

and

voting

rights

specified

in

the

bylaws.

5

7.

Article

VII

——

Finance.

6

a.

Except

as

otherwise

provided,

the

moneys

necessary

to

7

finance

the

general

operations

of

the

commission

in

carrying

8

forth

its

duties,

responsibilities,

and

powers

as

stated

9

in

this

compact

shall

be

appropriated

to

the

commission

by

10

the

compacting

states,

when

authorized

by

the

respective

11

legislatures,

by

equal

apportionment

among

the

compacting

12

states.

Nothing

in

this

compact

shall

be

construed

to

commit

a

13

member

state

to

participate

in

financing

a

rail

project

except

14

as

provided

by

law

of

a

member

state.

15

b.

The

commission

may

accept,

for

any

of

its

purposes

16

and

functions,

donations,

gifts,

grants,

and

appropriations

17

of

money,

equipment,

supplies,

materials,

and

services

from

18

the

federal

government,

from

any

party

state

or

from

any

19

department,

agency,

or

municipality

thereof,

or

from

any

20

institution,

person,

firm,

or

corporation.

All

expenses

21

incurred

by

the

commission

in

executing

the

duties

imposed

22

upon

it

by

this

compact

shall

be

paid

by

the

commission

out

of

23

the

funds

available

to

it.

The

commission

shall

not

issue

any

24

debt

instrument.

The

commission

shall

submit

to

the

officer

25

designated

by

the

laws

of

each

party

state,

periodically

as

26

required

by

the

laws

of

each

party

state,

a

budget

containing

27

its

actual

past

and

estimated

future

expenditures.

28

8.

Article

VIII

——

Enactment,

effective

date,

and

29

amendments.

The

states

of

Illinois,

Indiana,

Iowa,

Kansas,

30

Michigan,

Minnesota,

Missouri,

Nebraska,

North

Dakota,

Ohio,

31

South

Dakota,

and

Wisconsin

are

eligible

to

join

this

compact.

32

Upon

approval

of

the

commission,

according

to

its

bylaws,

other

33

states

may

also

be

declared

eligible

to

join

the

compact.

34

As

to

any

eligible

party

state,

this

compact

shall

become

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effective

when

its

legislature

shall

have

enacted

the

compact

1

into

law;

provided

that

the

compact

shall

not

become

initially

2

effective

until

enacted

into

law

by

any

three

party

states

3

incorporating

the

provisions

of

this

compact

into

the

laws

of

4

the

states.

Amendments

to

the

compact

shall

become

effective

5

upon

their

enactment

by

the

legislatures

of

all

compacting

6

states.

7

9.

Article

IX

——

Withdrawal,

default,

and

termination.

8

a.

Withdrawal

from

this

compact

shall

be

by

enactment

of

a

9

statute

repealing

the

compact

and

shall

take

effect

one

year

10

after

the

effective

date

of

the

statute.

A

withdrawing

state

11

shall

be

liable

for

any

obligations

which

it

may

have

incurred

12

prior

to

the

effective

date

of

withdrawal.

13

b.

If

any

compacting

state

defaults

in

the

performance

14

of

any

of

its

obligations,

assumed

or

imposed,

in

accordance

15

with

this

compact,

all

rights,

privileges,

and

benefits

16

conferred

by

this

compact

or

agreements

under

this

compact

17

shall

be

suspended

from

the

effective

date

of

the

default

as

18

fixed

by

the

commission,

and

the

commission

shall

stipulate

19

the

conditions

and

maximum

time

for

compliance

under

which

20

the

defaulting

state

may

resume

its

regular

status.

Unless

21

the

default

is

remedied

under

the

stipulations

and

within

22

the

time

period

set

forth

by

the

commission,

this

compact

23

may

be

terminated

with

respect

to

the

defaulting

state

by

24

affirmative

vote

of

a

majority

of

the

other

commission

members.

25

Any

such

defaulting

state

may

be

reinstated,

upon

vote

of

26

the

commission,

by

performing

all

acts

and

obligations

as

27

stipulated

by

the

commission.

28

10.

Article

X

——

Construction

and

severability.

The

29

provisions

of

this

compact

shall

be

severable

and

if

any

30

phrase,

clause,

sentence,

or

provision

of

this

compact

is

31

declared

to

be

contrary

to

the

constitution

of

any

compacting

32

state

or

of

the

United

States,

or

the

applicability

thereof

33

to

any

government,

agency,

person,

or

circumstance

is

held

34

invalid,

the

validity

of

the

remainder

of

this

compact

and

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the

applicability

thereof

to

any

government,

agency,

person,

1

or

circumstance

shall

not

be

affected

by

the

declaration

2

or

holding.

If

this

compact

is

held

to

be

contrary

to

the

3

constitution

of

any

compacting

state,

the

compact

shall

remain

4

in

full

force

and

effect

as

to

the

remaining

states

and

in

5

full

force

and

effect

as

to

the

state

affected

as

to

all

6

severable

matters.

This

compact

shall

be

liberally

construed

7

to

effectuate

the

purposes

of

the

compact.

8

Sec.

2.

EFFECTIVE

DATE.

This

Act,

being

deemed

of

immediate

9

importance,

takes

effect

upon

enactment.

10

EXPLANATION

11

The

inclusion

of

this

explanation

does

not

constitute

agreement

with

12

the

explanation’s

substance

by

the

members

of

the

general

assembly.

13

This

bill

provides

that

the

midwest

interstate

passenger

14

rail

compact

is

entered

into

and

enacted

into

law

together

15

with

several

other

midwestern

states

if

those

states

join

the

16

compact

in

substantially

the

same

form.

17

The

bill

provides

that

the

purposes

of

the

compact

are

18

to

promote

development

and

implementation

of

improvements

to

19

intercity

passenger

rail

service

in

the

midwest,

to

coordinate

20

interaction

among

midwestern

state

officials

on

passenger

21

rail

issues,

to

promote

development

and

implementation

of

22

plans

for

high-speed

rail

passenger

service

in

the

midwest

23

and

other

regions,

to

work

with

public

and

private

sectors

24

at

all

levels

to

ensure

coordination

among

entities

with

an

25

interest

in

passenger

rail

service

and

to

promote

midwestern

26

interests

regarding

such

service,

and

to

support

efforts

of

27

transportation

agencies

involved

in

developing

and

implementing

28

passenger

rail

service

in

the

midwest.

29

The

bill

provides

that

a

commission

shall

be

established

to

30

further

the

purposes

of

and

to

carry

out

the

duties

specified

31

in

the

compact.

Each

state

joining

the

compact

is

to

be

32

represented

by

four

commission

members:

the

governor

of

the

33

state

or

the

governor’s

designee,

serving

during

the

tenure

of

34

the

governor

or

until

a

successor

is

named;

a

member

of

the

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private

sector

appointed

by

the

governor,

serving

during

the

1

tenure

of

the

governor

or

until

a

successor

is

named;

and

two

2

legislators,

one

from

each

legislative

chamber,

appointed

by

3

the

appropriate

appointing

authority

in

each

chamber,

serving

4

two-year

terms

or

until

successors

are

appointed.

5

The

bill

provides

a

list

of

powers

and

duties

the

commission

6

shall

have

related

to

the

compact

and

provides

for

the

7

administration

and

financing

of

the

general

operations

of

the

8

commission.

The

bill

also

includes

provisions

relating

to

9

withdrawal,

default,

and

termination

of

the

compact.

10

The

bill

takes

effect

upon

enactment.

The

compact,

having

11

already

been

enacted

into

law

and

entered

into

by

eight

states,

12

would

apply

in

Iowa

effective

upon

enactment

of

the

bill.

13

Current

midwest

interstate

passenger

rail

compact

member

14

states

include

Illinois,

Indiana,

Kansas,

Michigan,

Minnesota,

15

Missouri,

North

Dakota,

and

Wisconsin.

Iowa,

Nebraska,

Ohio,

16

and

South

Dakota

are

eligible

to

join.

17

-7-

LSB

2059HV

(1)

91

th/ns

7/

7