Bill to limit eminent domain for carbon pipelines dies in Iowa Senate

A Home invoice that might have restricted the usage of eminent area for carbon seize pipelines gave the impression to be useless for the yr Thursday after the Iowa Senate did not advance it forward of a legislative deadline.

The invoice would ban the usage of eminent area for carbon pipelines until 90% of the route is first acquired by way of voluntary land gross sales. It might additionally add protections for landowners if their land is broken by a pipeline.

The Iowa Home handed the invoice final week with bipartisan assist and opposition, however Senate Republicans by no means scheduled an preliminary subcommittee listening to.

There are methods that Statehouse leaders might deliver the useless proposal up for a vote, however Home Speaker Pat Grassley, R-New Hartford, stated the way forward for the invoice just isn’t clear.

“Clearly proper now, it’s not trying like a really wholesome future for it,” he stated. “Nevertheless, within the Home, the members that I’ve talked to, we nonetheless really feel very strongly about what we handed. And we actually imagine it was the correct factor for us to do. So from our perspective, we nonetheless stand robust behind what we despatched over there.”

Grassley declined to say whether or not the invoice would turn out to be a key a part of end-of-session negotiations with the Senate. He stated Iowans who’re within the invoice ought to proceed to contact their legislators.

In an interview with Radio Iowa, Senate Majority Chief Jack Whitver, R-Grimes, stated he doesn’t assume the dialog is over. However he stated there’s at present no consensus amongst Senate Republicans with regards to proscribing eminent area use for the pipelines.

“There’s simply plenty of totally different opinions,” Whitver stated. “And in case you have a look at the totally different folks which might be… on this invoice, it’s very distinctive to have [the Iowa] Farm Bureau working with Sierra Membership and [Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement] and Meals and Water Watch on one facet, versus the whole ag business on the opposite facet. There’s simply as many opinions as there are members at this level.”

Whitver stated this can be a “sizzling problem” for individuals who need the pipelines to occur, and those that don’t.

Rep. Jennifer Konfrst, D-Windsor Heights, stated it’s irritating to not have the ability to proceed the dialog on a problem that 78% of Iowans agree on.

“We’re going to not have the ability to disguise from this problem,” she stated. “Now we have to have the ability to inform voters the place we stand, and that we’re seeking to repair this. And for the Senate to punt it and do nothing is, frankly, it’s politics.”

Konfrst stated the invoice isn’t good, however she voted for it so the dialog might proceed.

Sen. Zach Wahls, D-Coralville, declined to say whether or not or not he’d vote for the invoice if it got here up for a vote within the Senate.

“I feel it’s egregious that [Senate Republicans] wouldn’t even schedule a subcommittee to listen to from the general public on it,” he stated.

Wahls stated if it got here up for a vote within the Senate, he thinks there can be a excessive degree of assist for the invoice.