Landowners Flood Capitol, Rallying Against Eminent Domain for CO₂ Pipelines as New Bill Advances

Barbara Lein
Jan 14, 2026

DES MOINES — In a packed rotunda and crowded committee room at the Iowa State Capitol this week, hundreds of landowners in red shirts raised signs reading “No Eminent Domain” and “No Carbon Pipelines,” making one thing clear: the battle over private property rights in Iowa is far from over.

The passionate gathering — dozens strong — was not simply a protest, but part of a coordinated push as lawmakers take up new legislation aimed at restricting the use of eminent domain for carbon dioxide pipeline projects. The scene underscored the deep frustration felt by many rural Iowans who say their constitutional rights are at stake.

“Property rights are not negotiable,” said one protester inside the Capitol rotunda as lawmakers prepared for hearings this week.

HSB 507 Advances to Committee

On Tuesday, a House subcommittee advanced House Study Bill 507, a simple, targeted piece of legislation that would prohibit CO₂ pipeline operators from using eminent domain to acquire land for their projects — a move supporters say protects Iowa landowners from having private infrastructure forced onto their property without real consent.

Backers of the bill, including Rep. Steve Holt (R-Denison), argued the language is “as simple as it can get” and would not block pipeline construction but would ensure that any easement agreements are reached voluntarily, without threat of forced takeover of private land. Holt and colleagues advanced the bill out of the subcommittee to the full House Judiciary Committee.

Meanwhile, public comments submitted in support of HSB 507 emphasize that landowners want clarity and control over what happens on their property — and believe this bill is the first real step toward that outcome.

A Long Road, With Past Battles Still Lingering

This marks the second straight year eminent domain reform has come to the forefront of the Legislature’s agenda. Last year the House passed an eminent domain ban, only to have the bill vetoed by Governor Kim Reynolds, who argued the measure was too broad and could threaten economic growth and energy reliability.

The Senate also took up reform in 2025, passing its own version aimed at limiting eminent domain for carbon pipelines, but that measure ultimately stalled before becoming law.

Senate Majority Leader Mike Klimesh has signaled that the Senate intends to introduce its own version of eminent domain legislation early in the session, likely focusing on allowing pipeline operators to shift routes to avoid using eminent domain, rather than banning it outright.

This legislative tug-of-war highlights a divide not only between pipeline proponents and opponents, but also within Republican ranks — between members who see eminent domain restrictions as a constitutional imperative and others who view the restrictions as a risk to future economic development.

Ethanol Industry and Pipeline Companies Push Back

Representatives from Summit Carbon Solutions, the company behind the proposed carbon pipeline network, have argued HSB 507 would effectively “kill” the project in Iowa by eliminating the ability to secure rights-of-way necessary for construction. Opponents contend restricting eminent domain could hinder efforts to reach federal incentives tied to low-carbon ethanol markets.

Still, many landowners at the Capitol this week said their message was simple:

“We can support economic growth without sacrificing the constitutional rights engraved in Article I of the Iowa Constitution — rights that protect us from government-forced seizure of our property.”

That sentiment was reflected not only in the crowd in the rotunda, but also in the steady stream of written testimony submitted to legislative committees this week in favor of HSB 507.

What’s Next

With HSB 507 now in front of the full House Judiciary Committee, lawmakers will have to decide whether to bring the bill to the House floor for a vote — likely sparking another round of debate over balancing landowner protections with industry incentives. Simultaneously, the Senate’s own eminent domain proposal looms on the horizon, setting up a possible clash between chambers on how best to address the contentious pipeline issue.

For now, however, this week’s showing — both inside the Capitol and in committee testimony — demonstrates one thing clearly:

Property rights remain at the center of Iowa’s 2026 legislative session — and landowners are watching every move.