Reynolds vetoes eminent domain bill, House Speaker Grassley calls for special session to override veto

DES MOINES — Governor Kim Reynolds Wednesday afternoon vetoed a bill that would have made it harder for Summit Carbon Solutions to seize land along their proposed pipeline route from unwilling property owners.

Reynolds in a written statement said she respected both sides in the debate over the use of eminent domain authority, but she says the bill is too broad and impacts other types of energy infrastrucre.

House Speaker Pat Grassley says Iowa House Republicans believe landowner rights are a fundamental right in Iowa, and with the governor’s veto, he’s sent a request to all members to sign a petition to reconvene the legislature in a special session to override her veto. He adds that the veto is a major setback for Iowa, not only for landowners who have been fighting across Iowa, but for the work House Republicans have put in for four years to get the legislation passed.

Senate Republican Leader Jack Whitver says he supports Reynolds’ decision. He says based on the votes on the bill in the Iowa Senate, a significant majority of the Republican caucus supports a better policy to protect landowner rights. He says he expects that majority of the caucus would not be interested in any attempt to override the veto.