Twelve Republicans in the Iowa Senate say they will not vote for any state spending bill until they get a chance to vote on a bill limiting carbon pipeline developers’ ability to seize land from unwilling property owners. It means the Senate’s GOP leaders do not have enough Republican votes to pass their state spending plans. Republican Senator Kevin Alons of Salix says curbing the use of eminent domain authority is the group’s top priority in the 2025 legislative session.
Alons and other GOP senators engaged in the issue have given speeches on the Senate floor over the past week. Senator David Sires of Cedar Falls says it’s time to pass meaningful protections for landowners.
Senate GOP Leader Jack Whitver says several Republican Senators are working on policy surrounding eminent domain and pipeline issues and he’s optimistic the group will find a legislative solution. The House has repeatedly passed pipeline restrictions over the past three years, but the senate has never voted on any of them. Dave Rowley of Spirit Lake, who represents all of Kossuth, Emmet, Palo Alto, Dickinson and Winnebago counties and Dennis Guth of Klemme, who represents all of Hancock, Wright, Humboldt, Franklin, and Hamilton counties are among the 12 senators who’ve joined to block budget action.
