This bill addresses pipeline projects in Iowa, focusing on damage claims and landowner rights. It amends existing laws to clarify that claims for damages incurred by landowners and crop owners due to pipeline activities are not barred from renegotiation based on the apparent nature of the damages at the time of settlement or the passage of more than five years since the settlement. Additionally, it allows landowners and crop owners to file actions for relief against pipeline companies in small claims or district court for violations of damage payment provisions. The bill also expands the list of compensable losses to include damages related to drainage, soil compaction, and damage to soil and water conservation structures, as well as irrigation systems.

Furthermore, the bill empowers landowners, alongside county boards of supervisors, to petition the utilities commission for corrective actions and to file complaints for civil penalties related to land restoration requirements. It introduces provisions for using global positioning system yield monitoring data to demonstrate crop deficiencies. The bill also makes conforming changes to provisions related to interstate natural gas pipelines and hazardous liquid pipelines, ensuring consistency in damage claims and available relief actions. The legislation is set to take effect immediately upon enactment.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 479.25, 6B.52, 479.45, 479B.20, 479B.29