1. 1. The board shall determine and set the state assessment rate. State assessments collected pursuant to the promotional order shall be paid into the corn promotion fund established in section 185C.26. Except as provided in subsection 2, a state assessment shall not exceed one-quarter of one cent per bushel upon corn marketed in this state.

2. 2. Upon request of the board, the secretary shall call a special referendum for producers to vote on whether to authorize an increase in the state assessment above one-quarter of one cent per bushel, notwithstanding subsection 1. The special referendum shall be conducted as provided in this chapter for referendum elections. However, the special referendum shall not affect the existence or length of the promotional order in effect. If a majority of the producers voting in the special referendum approve the increase, the board may increase the assessment to the amount approved in the special referendum. The board shall establish the effective date of a rate change. However, a state assessment shall not exceed a scheduled maximum rate determined as follows:

   1. a. Before September 1, 2014, one cent.
   2. b. For each marketing year of the period beginning September 1, 2014, and ending August 31, 2019, two cents.
   3. c. For each marketing year beginning on and after September 1, 2019, three cents.

[C77, 79, 81, §185C.21] 89 Acts, ch 198, §9; 94 Acts, ch 1146, §35; 98 Acts, ch 1030, §1; 2014 Acts, ch 1049, §1