Breaking from decades-long norm, new Iowa Senate leader will manage Republicans’ pipeline and eminent domain bill

JOHNSTON — In what appears to be a first dating back multiple decades in the Iowa Senate, new Majority Leader Mike Klimesh said Friday he plans to manage the pipeline and property rights legislation being put forth by Senate Republicans.

Klimesh said he will take the lead and see the bill through its legislative process — a task known as “floor managing” that rarely is undertaken by leaders in either chamber of the Iowa Legislature.

Of the handful of individuals contacted by The Gazette’s Des Moines Bureau — people with decades of experience within the Iowa Legislature — none could recall even a single example of the Iowa Senate Majority Leader floor managing a policy bill.

Klimesh, a Republican from Spillville, is in his first session as Iowa Senate Majority Leader. He was chosen for the post by his majority Senate Republican colleagues after former leader Jack Whitver resigned from the post following last year’s session due to health concerns.

Klimesh discussed his decision and other legislative topics Friday while recording his appearance on this weekend’s episode of “Iowa Press” on Iowa PBS.

Klimesh acknowledged his approach is “unique,” but said he felt it was “essential” that he take the lead on Senate Republicans’ proposed legislation for property rights and carbon dioxide pipeline project policy after he was a vocal critic last year of the bill that ultimately passed the Iowa Legislature and was vetoed by Gov. Kim Reynolds. Klimesh spoke extensively during the Senate’s debate of that bill, which he roundly criticized.

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Last year, Sen. Mike Bousselot, a Republican from Ankeny, managed the pipeline policy and property rights bill preferred by Senate Republican leadership. Bousselot is a previous head of external relations for Summit Agricultural Group, which owns Summit Carbon Solutions, the company that has been approved by state regulators to construct a carbon dioxide pipeline in Iowa.

“I’ll be taking (this year’s Senate Republican bill) from subcommittee through committee, and I’ll be floor managing it,” Klimesh said, outlining the legislative steps that a bill takes to become state law in Iowa.

“I was heavily involved in the floor debate (over last year’s bill),” Klimesh said, “and I think for me to show concern in a piece of legislation (and) not bring forth a solution … It’s important for my leadership. It’s important for me, personally, to be a part of the solution and to drive that ship, and for my caucus seeing me willing to take out front, the lead on this issue and bring us to a solution.”

This year, Senate Republicans have proposed allowing carbon dioxide pipeline projects to divert from their original, state-approved route if it helps the company enter into more voluntary land easements with property owners. Their bill this year also would require pipeline companies to “diligently exhaust” all alternatives and present “clear and convincing” evidence that they did so before requesting authorization by the state to use eminent domain.

House Republicans this past week passed legislation that would prohibit the use of eminent domain for carbon dioxide pipeline projects.

The issues of pipeline policy intersecting with property rights have percolated in the Iowa Legislature for the past five years, ever since the proposals of three carbon capture pipeline projects crossing the state. Since then, just one proposed project remains — from Iowa-based Summit Carbon Solutions.

Summit Carbon Solutions has proposed a 2,500-mile CO2 pipeline through five states, including Iowa, to capture the greenhouse gas from ethanol plants and bury it in North Dakota. Defenders of the pipeline project say it will boost Iowa’s ethanol industry, reduce carbon dioxide emissions and open new product markets to Iowa corn farmers.

Regulators on the Iowa Utilities Commission in 2024 approved a permit for the Iowa section, including granting Summit eminent domain powers.

In the years since the pipeline was proposed, state legislators — primarily Republicans in the Iowa House — have filed and debated multiple pieces of legislation regarding property rights, eminent domain and more. The Iowa Legislature passed sweeping legislation during the 2025 session, but it was vetoed by Reynolds, who said it was too broad.

“Iowa Press” can be viewed on Iowa PBS at 7:30 p.m. Friday and noon on Sunday, and any time online at iowapbs.org.

Comments: (515) 355-1300, erin.murphy@thegazette.com

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