House File 2054 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 2054 BY GRASSLEY , KAUFMANN , ROGERS , FISHER , WATTS , HEARTSILL , SCHULTZ , PETTENGILL , and BYRNES A BILL FOR An Act requiring approval of the general assembly prior 1 to bifurcating a hearing on a petition for a franchise 2 to construct an electric transmission line or related 3 facilities. 4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 5 TLSB 5445YH (4) 85 rn/nh

H.F. 2054 Section 1. NEW SECTION . 478.6A Bifurcation —— legislative 1 approval. 2 A hearing held in response to a petition shall not be 3 subject to bifurcation such that the issues of whether the 4 proposed line or lines are necessary to serve a public use and 5 the taking of property under the right of eminent domain are 6 considered in one or more separate hearings unless the question 7 of bifurcation has been submitted to and approved by a majority 8 of the members of both houses of the general assembly. 9 EXPLANATION 10 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 11 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 12 This bill prohibits bifurcating a hearing in response to a 13 petition for a franchise to construct an electric transmission 14 line or related facilities into separate hearings regarding 15 whether the proposed line or lines are necessary to serve 16 a public use and the taking of property under the right of 17 eminent domain unless the question of bifurcation has been 18 submitted to and approved by a majority of the members of both 19 houses of the general assembly. 20 -1- LSB 5445YH (4) 85 rn/nh 1/ 1