Iowa landowners threaten to vote out lawmakers over eminent domain dispute

DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa State Capitol Bureau) - Iowa landowners are threatening to vote out lawmakers who they say won’t protect their property rights. Legislators remain divided over eminent domain and so far, no bill has passed this session.

Eminent domain allows companies to build pipelines on private land for projects even without the owner’s approval.

Landowners rallied outside the Capitol Tuesday, demanding Senate Majority Leader Mike Klimesh debate a bill the House passed earlier in the session that would ban eminent domain use for Summit Carbon Solutions’ carbon capture pipeline. But Klimesh says he doesn’t have enough Republican votes in the Senate to move it further.

Some landowners say they have been pushing for this ban for five years.

“And anyone who’s been against us, no matter which party it is, if they can’t stand up for the constitution and their own platforms, both the Republican and Democrat, then it’s time to vote them out of office,” said Darlene Partlow of Guthrie County.

A Senate subcommittee changed the bill. Instead of a ban, it would allow companies to reroute carbon pipelines around landowners who refuse access and through properties of those who agree.

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Isabella Warren covers state government and politics for Gray Media-owned stations in Iowa. Email her at isabella.warren@kcrg.com; and follow her on Facebook at Isabella Warren TV on X/Twitter@isabellaw_gray, and on Instagram@IsabellaWarrenTV.