HF 241 (LSB 2344YH (3) 91)

HOUSE FILE 241

BY  THOMSON, ANDREWS, HAYES, THOMPSON, HENDERSON, SHIPLEY, DIEKEN, GOLDING, FISHER, GERHOLD, JENEARY, CISNEROS, FETT, HOLT, GEARHART, SMITH, WENGRYN, and LAWLER

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to utilities commission member attendance at hearings and informational meetings.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 476.33, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  5.  For hearings initiated under this chapter, all members of the commission shall be present during any live testimony. If at any point during live testimony at a hearing not all members are available for any reason, the meeting shall pause until all members of the commission return.
    Sec. 2.  Section 478.2, subsection 2, paragraph a, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   a.  A member of the commission, the counsel of the commission, or a presiding officer designated by the commission shall serve as the presiding officer at each meeting, shall present an agenda for such meeting, which shall include a summary of the legal rights of the affected landowners, and shall distribute and review the statement of individual rights required under section 6B.2A, subsection 1.  At least one member of the commission shall attend each informational meeting. If at any point during the meeting no member of the commission is available for any reason, the meeting shall pause until at least one member of the commission returns. A formal record of the meeting shall not be required.
    Sec. 3.  NEW SECTION.  478.34  Hearing —— commission member attendance.
   All hearings initiated under this chapter shall follow the attendance rules governing commission members as provided in section 476.33, subsection 5.
    Sec. 4.  Section 479.5, subsection 3, paragraph a, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   a.  A pipeline company shall hold informational meetings in each county in which real property or property rights will be affected at least thirty days prior to filing the petition for a new pipeline. A member of the commission or a person designated by the commission shall serve as the presiding officer at each meeting, shall present an agenda for the meeting, which shall include a summary of the legal rights of the affected landowners, and shall distribute and review the statement of individual rights required under section 6B.2A.  At least one member of the commission shall attend each informational meeting. If at any point during the meeting no member of the commission is available for any reason, the meeting shall pause until at least one member of the commission returns. A formal record of the meeting shall not be required.
    Sec. 5.  NEW SECTION.  479.50  Hearing —— commission member attendance.
   All hearings initiated under this chapter shall follow the attendance rules governing commission members as provided in section 476.33, subsection 5.
    Sec. 6.  Section 479B.4, subsection 3, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   3.  The pipeline company shall hold informational meetings in each county in which real property or property rights will be affected at least thirty days prior to filing the petition for a new pipeline. A member of the commission, or a person designated by the commission, shall serve as the presiding officer at each meeting and present an agenda for the meeting, which shall include a summary of the legal rights of the affected landowners.  At least one member of the commission shall attend each informational meeting. If at any point during the meeting no member of the commission is available for any reason, the meeting shall pause until at least one member of the commission returns. No formal record of the meeting shall be required. The meeting shall be held at a location reasonably accessible to all persons who may be affected by granting the permit.
    Sec. 7.  NEW SECTION.  479B.34  Hearing —— commission member attendance.
   All hearings initiated under this chapter shall follow the attendance rules governing commission members as provided in section 476.33, subsection 5.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to utilities commission member attendance at hearings and informational meetings.
   The bill requires all members of the commission to be present for hearings related to public utility regulation or electric transmission lines, pipelines, or hazardous liquid pipelines regulated by the commission. The bill requires the hearings to pause if at any point during the meeting a member of the commission is not available for any reason and the hearing shall not resume until all members return.
   The bill requires at least one member of the commission to be present for an informational meeting regarding the issuance of an electric transmission line franchise, a pipeline permit, or a hazardous liquid pipeline permit. The bill requires the informational meeting to pause if at any point during the meeting no member of the commission is available for any reason and the meeting shall not resume until at least one member returns.