Sierra Club Iowa Chapter: Landowner Property Rights Protection Bill Is Solution To Carbon Pipeline Eminent Domain Abuse

For Immediate Release: December 17, 2025

Contact:
Jess Mazour, 515-313-5253, jessica.mazour@sierraclub.org

 

Landowner Property Rights Protection Bill Is Solution To Carbon Pipeline Eminent Domain Abuse

Senate proposal to widen corridors does not address property rights

Des Moines, IA. – A majority of landowners, legislators, supervisors and Iowans are calling to protect property rights by removing eminent domain powers for carbon pipelines.

“Carbon pipelines are not a utility, they provide no public benefit, public use or public convenience and therefore should not be eligible for the use of eminent domain.  The Property Rights Protection Bill is a clean bill. Our bill does not impact any other type of pipeline or infrastructure project and it does not stop companies from building carbon pipelines.” said Kim Junker, Butler County landowner.

The legislation being proposed by landowners, and vetted by attorneys, is a clean bill based on the South Dakota law that passed in 2025 and is growing in popularity across the midwest. Landowners in Illinois, Nebraska, and Indiana are proposing similar legislation.

Senate leadership announced a proposal to remove the pipeline corridor, which landowners consider a false solution as long as eminent domain is still on the table.  Landowners aren’t asking to remove the corridor, Summit is. Expanding the pipeline corridor means even more landowners can be abused with the threat of eminent domain. That makes matters worse for landowners – not better. Eminent Domain must be off the table, period. Iowans deserve property right protection from our elected officials, not watering our individual rights down in favor of billionaires and their profit motives.

“There cannot be a discussion of widening a pipeline corridor unless there is first a law that eminent domain cannot be used for CO2 pipelines. Expanding the corridor does not protect existing targeted landowners or future targeted landowners that simply want to live without the daily threat of a hazardous CO2 pipeline because the hammer of eminent domain remains over their heads. Iowans deserve real respect and lawmakers’ commitment to their basic rights” said Landowner Lawyer Brian Jorde.

“Widening the pipeline corridor would simply add confusion and uncertainty to the process. I can’t imagine a pipeline company weaving around, trying to find a route where it does not have to use eminent domain. A clean bill prohibiting eminent domain for carbon pipelines is the answer.” Said Sierra Club Iowa Chapter Attorney Wally Taylor.

Landowners have been meeting with legislators for the last three months on a proposal to remove the powers of eminent domain for carbon pipelines and have received resounding support for a clean property rights bill.  Multiple requests for meetings with Senate Majority Leader Klimesh went unanswered.

“If private-profit carbon pipelines are allowed to use eminent domain against even one landowner, it is a violation and abuse of our constitutional property rights.  In Iowa, we believe in free and fair markets, not gaming the system by taking from landowners and small business owners and giving to multi-billion dollar corporations.” said Mike Henning, targeted landowner in Greene County.

“For five years now landowners have been asking for a clean property rights bill for carbon pipelines to protect our constitutional property rights. A 10-mile corridor does nothing to protect property rights.” Said Kathy Stockdale, targeted landowner on Summit’s Phase 1 and Phase 2 routes in Hardin County.

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