Iowa House subcommittee on eminent domain bill (Jan 2026)

Bleeding Heartland's Laura Belin recorded this Iowa House subcommittee meeting on January 13, 2026, the second day of the legislative session.

Representative Steven Holt, the chair of the House Judiciary Committee, introduced House Study Bill 507, a simple bill to prohibit the use of eminent domain for carbon dioxide pipelines in Iowa. Bill text:

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislatio...

Iowa House Republicans returned to a simple bill in part because Governor Kim Reynolds vetoed the more wide-ranging bill on pipelines and eminent domain that lawmakers approved in the spring of 2025.

Most of this video shows members of the public speaking for or against the bill (it's normal Iowa legislative practice to alternate supporters and opponents). Many supporters were affected landowners, who would be subject to eminent domain from the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline. Those opposing the bill represented Summit Carbon, the Iowa Corn Growers, renewable fuels interests, and organized labor.

Then the three legislators gave remarks. Democratic State Senator Ross Wilburn didn't sign off on the bill. State Representative Charley Thomson and Holt then explained why they supported the measure.

Holt referred to a recent newsletter from an Iowa Senate Republican, which contained the line, "A vast majority of Iowa farm families will voluntarily enjoy a renewal in farm profitability in the years to come. A small and fiercely resistant minority may be force-fed prosperity."

That was from State Senator Annette Sweeney. Read the whole newsletter here:

https://freesoilfoundation.com/senato...