New restrictions for pipelines in bill that passed through Iowa Statehouse late Monday

IOWA LAWMAKERS HAVE SIGNED OFF ON A BILL THAT WOULD PUT NEW RESTRICTIONS ON PIPELINE COMPANIES THAT WANT TO USE EMINENT DOMAIN FOR THEIR PROJECTS. THE SUMMIT PIPELINE PROJECT, RUNNING THROUGH IOWA AND NEIGHBORING STATES, IS AT THE CENTER OF THE SITUATION. OUR BEAU BOWMAN JOINS US LIVE OUTSIDE THE STATE CAPITOL THIS EVENING AND BO THIS BILL COULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON THAT PROJECT RIGHT? OH, YEAH. JODI LAURA, SOME LANDOWNERS HAVE BEEN PUSHING THIS LEGISLATION FOR YEARS. AND IF IT’S SIGNED BY GOVERNOR KIM REYNOLDS, IT WOULD PUT A LOT OF NEW REQUIREMENTS ON COMPANIES LIKE SUMMIT. FOR YEARS, I FIRST GOT THE LETTER FROM SUMMIT IN LATE AUGUST OF 2021. THAT’S HOW LONG LANDOWNERS LIKE KATHY CARTER OF FLOYD COUNTY HAVE BEEN LOBBYING FOR EMINENT DOMAIN REFORM. HER LAND IS ONE OF THE PARCELS SUMMIT CARBON SOLUTIONS WANTS TO BUILD A PIPELINE THROUGH. TO GET TO THIS POINT IS ASTRONOMICAL. THOSE VOTING I 27. THOSE VOTING NAY 22. LATE MONDAY NIGHT, THE IOWA SENATE PASSED A BILL THAT WOULD RESTRICT PIPELINE COMPANIES FROM USING EMINENT DOMAIN TO BUILD THEIR PROJECTS UNLESS THEY QUALIFY AS SOMETHING CALLED A COMMON CARRIER. THE FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION WOULD MAKE THAT DETERMINATION TO QUALIFY AS A COMMON CARRIER, THE COMPANY WOULD NEED TO AGREE TO SERVE THE PUBLIC FAIRLY AND TRANSPORT THINGS LIKE GAS OR CARBON DIOXIDE FOR OTHER PEOPLE OR COMPANIES, NOT JUST ITSELF. THE COMPANY WOULD HAVE TO PROVIDE CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE THAT THEY WOULD DO THAT. THIS ISN’T JUST A FIGHT ABOUT CONSTITUTIONAL PROPRIETY AND AND AUTHORITY. IT’S ALSO A FIGHT ABOUT JUSTICE. AND IT’S A FIGHT ABOUT TRUTH, AND IT’S A FIGHT ABOUT GOOD GOVERNMENT TO GET IT THROUGH THE CHAMBER. 13 REPUBLICAN SENATORS BROKE PARTY LINES, HOLDING OUT ON PASSING A BUDGET UNTIL THIS EMINENT DOMAIN BILL WAS BROUGHT TO THE SENATE FLOOR. THOSE LAWMAKERS JOINED 14 DEMOCRATS TO SEND IT TO THE GOVERNOR’S DESK. I DON’T THINK THAT YOU SHOULD BE USING EMINENT DOMAIN FOR PRIVATE GAIN. IT IS THAT SIMPLE. I BELIEVE THAT HOUSE FILE 639 IS A TROJAN HORSE. IT’S A HORSE ROLLED INTO THE LEGISLATURE. REPUBLICAN SENATOR MIKE BUFFALO VOTED AGAINST THE BILL, SAYING THE LANGUAGE OF THE LEGISLATION COULD OPEN THE DOORS FOR LAWSUITS REGARDING PRIVATE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. HOUSE FILE 639 IS A PIE THAT’S BAKED WITH A WHOLE TON OF INGREDIENTS, AND SOME OF THEM ARE SPOILED, AND I DON’T THINK WE WANT IOWA RESIDENTS TO EAT THAT PIE. LANDOWNERS FROM ALL OVER THE STATE HAVE BEEN LOBBYING FOR THIS KIND OF LEGISLATION FOR YEARS, AND FEEL AS IF MONDAY NIGHT WAS A BIG WIN FOR PROPERTY RIGHTS. IT KIND OF FEELS LIKE THE TIDE HAS TURNED A LITTLE, AND MAYBE THERE’S A MORE PLAY, A MORE LEVEL PLAYING FIELD BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND THE LANDOWNERS. SUMMIT CARBON SOLUTIONS DID NOT RESPOND TO OUR REQUEST FOR A COMMENT. WE ALSO REACHED OUT TO THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE TO SEE IF SHE WAS PLANNING ON SIGNING THE BILL. THEY SAID THEY ARE STILL REVIEWING IT. WE’RE LIVE IN DE

Iowa lawmakers have approved a bill (HF 639) that could impose new restrictions on pipeline companies seeking to use eminent domain for their projects, with the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline at the center of the debate. The legislation now awaits Gov. Kim Reynolds' signature.If enacted, the bill would require pipeline companies to meet stricter criteria before using eminent domain. Specifically, companies would need to qualify as "common carriers," a designation determined by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. To achieve this status, companies must demonstrate they serve the public fairly and transport resources like gas or carbon dioxide for others, not just for their own use. The burden of proof would require "clear and convincing evidence," according to the bill. The legislation would also prohibit the renewal of permits for a carbon dioxide pipeline, limit the use of such a pipeline to 25 years and significantly increase the insurance coverage requirements for the pipeline company.For landowners like Kathy Carter of Floyd County, this legislation represents a significant milestone. Carter, whose property is part of the proposed Summit pipeline route, has been advocating for eminent domain reform since 2021. "To get to this point is astronomical," she said after the bill passed the Iowa Senate by a vote of 27-22.The Iowa Senate passed the bill late Monday night, with 13 Republican senators breaking party lines to join 14 Democrats in advancing the legislation. The bipartisan effort came after some lawmakers withheld support for the state budget until the eminent domain bill was brought to the floor. Senator Mike Bousselot, R-Ankeny, expressed concerns about potential legal challenges, calling the bill a "Trojan horse." Similarly, Sen. Mike Klimesh, R-Spillville, criticized the legislation, saying, "House File 639 is a pie that's baked with a whole ton of ingredients and some of them are spoiled."Despite the opposition, landowners across Iowa view the bill's passage as a victory for property rights. Jan Norris, a landowner near the pipeline's proposed route in Montgomery County, remarked, "It kind of feels like the tide has turned a little and maybe there is a more level playing field between the company and the landowners."Summit Carbon Solutions has not commented on the bill, and Reynolds' office stated they are still reviewing the legislation.» Subscribe to ��vlog's YouTube page» Download the free ��vlog app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play

DES MOINES, Iowa —

Iowa lawmakers have approved a bill () that could impose new restrictions on pipeline companies seeking to use eminent domain for their projects, with the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline at the center of the debate.

The legislation now awaits Gov. Kim Reynolds' signature.

If enacted, the bill would require pipeline companies to meet stricter criteria before using eminent domain. Specifically, companies would need to qualify as "common carriers," a designation determined by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

To achieve this status, companies must demonstrate they serve the public fairly and transport resources like gas or carbon dioxide for others, not just for their own use. The burden of proof would require "clear and convincing evidence," according to the bill.

The legislation would also prohibit the renewal of permits for a carbon dioxide pipeline, limit the use of such a pipeline to 25 years and significantly increase the insurance coverage requirements for the pipeline company.

For landowners like Kathy Carter of Floyd County, this legislation represents a significant milestone. Carter, whose property is part of the proposed Summit pipeline route, has been advocating for eminent domain reform since 2021. "To get to this point is astronomical," she said after the bill passed the Iowa Senate by a vote of 27-22.

The Iowa Senate passed the bill late Monday night, with 13 Republican senators breaking party lines to join 14 Democrats in advancing the legislation. The bipartisan effort came after some lawmakers withheld support for the state budget until the eminent domain bill was brought to the floor.

Senator Mike Bousselot, R-Ankeny, expressed concerns about potential legal challenges, calling the bill a "Trojan horse." Similarly, Sen. Mike Klimesh, R-Spillville, criticized the legislation, saying, "House File 639 is a pie that's baked with a whole ton of ingredients and some of them are spoiled."

Despite the opposition, landowners across Iowa view the bill's passage as a victory for property rights. Jan Norris, a landowner near the pipeline's proposed route in Montgomery County, remarked, "It kind of feels like the tide has turned a little and maybe there is a more level playing field between the company and the landowners."

Summit Carbon Solutions has not commented on the bill, and Reynolds' office stated they are still reviewing the legislation.

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New restrictions for pipelines in bill that passed through Iowa Statehouse late Monday

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