Meeting Public Comments

Robert Nazario

I want to thank the Iowa House and all the legislators standing for property rights and stopping eminent domain abuse in regards to carbon capture! Im all for this bill! The Landowner!s across Iowa thank you as well. Please move this legislation forward and stop all eminent domain abuse for carbon capture. Sometimes thats what we need, just simple legislation!

KATHERINE Stockdale

This bill supports our constitutional rights. It gives landowners the choice to sign or not sign an easement agreement and can negotiate more freely without the threat of eminent domain. It allows the pipeline to still pursue easements and build but gives landowners the right to say no. Thank you for this bill to protect our constitutional rights.

Betsy Fickel

Very simple, straight forward bill to preserve inalienable, constitutionally protected property rights. What affects one segment of property rights WILL affect other types of property rights whether it be homes, monies, animals, vehicles, etc. Removing property rights is the first step in destroying freedoms and liberties.

Debra Lavalle

No eminent domain for carbon oxide pipelines is a clean nononsense bill. It is the will of your constituents, as confirmed by the Des Moines Register poll, the vast majority of Iowans do not want eminent domain allowed for CO2 pipelines. Eminent domain fuels unethical easement acquisition tactics. Minnesota law did not allow eminent domain to be used for the path Summit acquired to build its CO2 pipeline in that state. Let the pipeline path in Iowa be acquired as it was in Minnesota, with no threat of eminent domain. Please protect the property rights of Iowa landowners such as myself by advancing HB507.

Nancy Dugan [Select your title]

If the secretive amendments made by this legislature to Iowa Code ch 458A in 2024 allow the government to confiscate land against the will of landowners to store or sequester carbon, then in my opinion, these landowners have no ability to say "No thank you." Additionally, as a result of this proposed legislation (HSB 507), landowners would lose eminent domain protections enshrined in Iowa's Constitution. The 2024 bill was SF 2421 (last two pages of the bill). Please see this link: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=90&ba=sf%202421A recent North Dakota ruling addressed this issue. Quote from ruling: "31 Unitization to maximize extraction of a resource (like oil and gas) on one's land is clearlynot the aim here. Instead, the aim is to maximize storage of a resource that may or may not bepresent on the owner's property (carbon). While this might be possible using other legal avenues(i.e. eminent domain), the Court concludes it is done here in an unconstitutional manner, withoutjust compensation before the governmentauthorized intrusion resulting in a taking has occurred.32 In other words, units efficiently use shared natural resources within the unit, while this porespace amalgamation would bring carbon to a unit from where ever it was previously located, forcingnonconsenting owners to store in their pore space carbon not native to their land. Once the carbonproject is finished, title to that carbon project is then held by the state, depriving the landowner ofthat property right indefinitely. Finally, the statute allows a governmentauthorized physicalinvasion and thus prohibits landowners from excluding others from use ofthe landowner's propertyright, without just compensation being determined in accordance with constitution."Link to ruling: https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/wpcontent/uploads/2025/12/nwlaopinion.pdfIn my opinion, if you pass this legislation, you are violating the Iowa Constitution, which you are sworn to uphold. Specifically, I believe you will have violated the following:Article 1, Section 1"Section 1. Rights of persons. All men and women are, by nature, free and equal, andhave certain inalienable rights among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining safety andhappiness."Article 1, Section 2"Sec. 2. Political power. All political power is inherent in the people. Government isinstituted for the protection, security, and benefit of the people, and they have the right, at alltimes, to alter or reform the same, whenever the public good may require it."Article 1, Section 18"Sec. 18. Eminent domain drainage ditches and levees. Private property shall not betaken for public use without just compensation first being made, or secured to be made tothe owner thereof, as soon as the damages shall be assessed by a jury, who shall not take intoconsideration any advantages that may result to said owner on account of the improvementfor which it is taken.The general assembly, however, may pass laws permitting the owners of lands to constructdrains, ditches, and levees for agricultural, sanitary or mining purposes across the lands ofothers, and provide for the organization of drainage districts, vest the proper authoritieswith power to construct and maintain levees, drains and ditches and to keep in repair alldrains, ditches, and levees heretofore constructed under the laws of the state, by specialassessments upon the property benefited thereby. The general assembly may provide bylaw for the condemnation of such real estate as shall be necessary for the construction andmaintenance of such drains, ditches and levees, and prescribe the method of making suchcondemnation."Link to Constitution: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/ICP/1518288.pdfYou have taken a sworn oath to support the U.S. Constitution and the Iowa Constitution. Please honor your oath.

Nancy Erickson

Thank you for introducing a bill to ban the use of eminent domain for carbon oxide pipelines. It is time for property owners in Iowa to be treated with the same respect as property owners in Minnesota and South Dakota. Summit Carbon Solutions was granted a CO2 pipeline permit in Minnesota and they do not have the right of eminent domain in that state. If they can put a CO2 pipeline in Minnesota without the use of eminent domain, they can do the same in Iowa. It is time to treat property owners in Iowa fairly.

Kathy Carter

This marks the beginning of the fifth year FIVE YEARS that I, along with hundreds of other Iowa property owners, have had the specter of eminent domain hanging over our heads for the questionable use of carbon dioxide pipeline. This legislation will give the same RIGHTS to those of us who do not wish it on our property, the same rights given to those who have willingly said yes. Treat us fairly and equitably.

Doug Swartz [Threatened landowner]

Thank you for introducing a simple bill to protect Iowa Landowners from land agents who can threaten us with eminent domain for CO2 pipelines. We currently have no power to negotiate a reasonable easement. My wife and I did not like the terms of the easement. The first land agent listened to our concerns but nothing changed. When we told the 2nd land agent we did not like the terms of the easement, we were immediately threatened us with eminent domain. This happened long before the hearing in Fort Dodge. This pipeline would already be built in Iowa if landowners actually had the power to negotiate a fairer easement agreement. Thank you for supporting a bill to stop eminent domain for CO2 pipelines.

Jolene Goodsell

As a landowner in Montgomery County Iowa, please protect our land rights by denying eminent domain for CO2 pipelines. Please highly consider the effects of CO2 should there be a leak or explosion. People will not have time to escape and no one will rescue. Human life is valuable and so is our land.Thank you for your time.Jolene Goodsell

Eileen Sailer [Landowner]

HSB 507 affords our legislative body to succeed in their efforts to thwart eminent domain egregious conduct by corporate beholding lawmakers. You all have a moral obligation as well as a constitutional obligation to protect Iowa's property owners. The creeping assault on our liberty must STOP. This is a clean, straightforward bill that must not be denied.

Robert Fonder

This is an excellent bill for land owners that follows the constitution. Lets press forward and pass this good bill.

Todd Hocraffer

Standing up for the rights of all Iowans not the rights of just a few with political influence. Eminent domain protection for landowners who have repeatedly said no, no, no to having their property unconstituionally seized for the profit of a few. NO CO2 PIPELINE IS PUBLLIC USE.

Craig and Patty Beyer

The language of HSB 507 is clear, concise, and targeted. It does not ban CO2 pipelines; rather, it mandates that pipeline companies must negotiate in good faith with landowners and secure voluntary agreements. If a project is truly beneficial to the community, it should be able to stand on its own merits without the threat of legal seizure. We urge the Committee on Judiciary to move HSB 507 forward. By passing this bill, you are ensuring that the power of the state is never used to prioritize corporate interests over the fundamental rights of its citizens. Thank you!

Carol Hanson

George Wahington said if we lose property rights we lose our freedom! HSB507 means property rights should not be sacrificed for private gain. Please move this bill which 78% of the people of Iowa want according to the Des Moines Register poll!

Caila Corcoran

This is a straight forward bill that levels the playing field. It doesnt say you cannot build a pipeline it just gives the landowner the option to say no thank you without the threat of eminent domain.