Throughout the session, every week there were impacted landowners who came to the Capitol who were concerned about property rights in connection with the proposed Summit carbon dioxide pipeline. I talked with them informally many times and participated in two formal meetings. This is an issue that has been on my radar since December 2021 because it represents a serious threat to both constitutional adherence and maintenance of justice.
I was hopeful that a legislative compromise could be reached and enacted before the end of the session that would merge parts of Senator Klimesh’s bill (SF 2067) with the prohibition on eminent domain passed by the House in January (HF 2104). To that end, eleven of us decided to file a compromise in the form of a strike-after amendment to HF 2104.
Amendment S-5190 was sponsored by Senator Kevin Alons and co-sponsored by Senators Sandy Salmon, Dennis Guth, Dave Sires, Lynn Evans, Doug Campbell, Cherielynn Westrich, Mark Lofgren, Mike Pike, Charlie McClintock, and myself.
Unfortunately, Senate leadership and a majority of the Republican caucus could not support either the original House bill or the Alons amendment so they both died without a floor vote.
By the last day of session, it was clear to me that there wasn’t a realistic path to get either of these proposals to the Senate floor and then signed into law. This issue will continue to be debated at the ballot box and in courtrooms.
I am puzzled and befuddled at the mess being even considered regarding eminent domain. There is altogether too much mucking up the basics of this issue.
Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness is the basis of personal property rights.
We the People have passed laws saying that public utilities and roads should be granted eminent domain power when properly applied.
Eminent domain should never be used for any private entity, for-profit projects. Period
For the life of me, that simple one sentence should suffice the language in a bill that protects personal property rights.
Please enlighten me as to why that is not a workable solution.