Iowa State Senator Dennis Guth of Klemme says one issue that has not been addressed by the legislature this session is reforming when eminent domain can be used. Guth says the Iowa House of Representatives passed, in his opinion, two good bills dealing with eminent domain and pipelines. House File 943 prohibits the taking of agricultural land for a pipeline transporting liquified carbon dioxide.
House File 639 has a number of policies designed to protect landowners, including a requirement that hazardous liquid pipelines would have to have insurance to cover potential damage.
Guth says he’s been working on eminent domain for three years, and has not had any success getting a bill to come to the floor in the Iowa Senate during that time.
