Bills › 91st General Assembly

SF 249Died when the session ended · February 10, 2025

Relating to damages incurred due to releases of carbon dioxide from liquefied carbon dioxide pipelines or carbon dioxide facilities and including effective date provisions

Sponsored by Sen. Kevin Alons (R), Sen. Doug Campbell (R), Sen. Dennis Guth (R), Sen. Mark S. Lofgren (R), Sen. Sandy Salmon (R), Sen. Jeff Taylor (R), Sen. Cherielynn Westrich (R)

Topics:Courts & civil lawEnergy & utilitiesCarbon pipelines

Same legislation: HF 413

Where it is now

  1. Done: IntroducedFebruary 10, 2025
  2. Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 18, 2025
  3. Stopped: Senate committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
  4. Next: Passes the Senate
  5. Next: House committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
  6. Next: Passes the House
  7. Next: To the Governor
  8. Next: Signed into law

Died when the session ended The 2026 session adjourned on May 3, 2026, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

AI summary People who live near, travel through, or own property within 25 miles of a carbon dioxide pipeline or facility can sue the owner if a leak causes damage. These lawsuits must be filed within one year of the incident, and owners would be responsible for paying all damages. The law also ensures that any money awarded to victims is prioritized over other debts and protects certain assets if the owner goes bankrupt.1

Read the official explanation

This bill relates to damages incurred due to the release of carbon dioxide. The bill grants any person residing, traveling through, or visiting, or owning or leasing property, equipment, or livestock, within a 25-mile radius from the site of a release of carbon dioxide from a liquefied carbon dioxide pipeline or carbon dioxide facility standing to bring an action against the owner of a liquefied carbon dioxide pipeline or carbon dioxide facility if carbon dioxide is released from a liquefied carbon dioxide pipeline or carbon dioxide facility. The bill requires the claim to be filed within one year of the incident occurring. The bill imposes strict liability on the owner for all compensatory and punitive damages. The bill provides that any judgment lien for an action brought under the bill has priority over all other security interests or liens. The bill requires any assets held by an owner involved in bankruptcy or receivership to be held in trust for the benefit of potential carbon dioxide victim judgment lienholders for a period of one year from the owner’s last day of controlling the operations of the liquefied carbon dioxide pipeline or carbon dioxide facility or the owner’s last day of producing carbon dioxide that will be transported through a pipeline or sequestered on the property. The bill is effective upon enactment.

Full bill text2

Senate subcommittee

Named February 18, 2025. It hasn’t reported yet.

Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part

Iowa Code it changes

Creates§479B.34

How the Code works3

Lobbying

6 for · 0 against · 2 undecided · Who →

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