District 11 Rep. Craig Williams (R-Manning) says legislation restricting the use of eminent domain for carbon dioxide pipelines is moving rapidly through the Iowa House as the 2026 legislative session gets underway. In his first weekly newsletter of the session, Williams highlighted House File 2104, which would prohibit eminent domain use for CO2 pipelines. The bill was introduced nearly immediately after the session began and swiftly advanced through the House Judiciary Committee, of which Williams is a member. The committee passed the bill with bipartisan support, 19-2. Williams suggests the full House could consider the measure as early as this week. The proposal follows last year’s veto of similar legislation by Gov. Kim Reynolds. The Iowa Senate is working on its own version and could amend the House bill before sending it back for consideration. The opening days of each session move quickly, and Williams highlighted several notable moments, including the Condition of the State, Condition of the Judiciary, and Condition of the Guard addresses, and the swearing-in of District 7 Rep. Wendy Larson following a special election to replace Rep. Mike Sexton (R-Rockwell City) after he resigned to become director of the Iowa USDA Rural Development Office. Williams also noted visits from Coon Rapids-Bayard students as part of the Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates (iJAG). Williams asks constituents to reach out with questions, concerns, or ideas, as he views his purpose in the legislature as advocating for all of District 11. He can be reached at craig.williams@legis.iowa.gov.
