Eminent domain and Medicaid requirements pass Iowa Legislature
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The Iowa legislative session ended Thursday morning after several days of tension between Republican lawmakers.
Why it matters: In the latter half of the session, lawmakers passed several major bills, including stricter Medicaid work requirements and eminent domain restrictions.
Driving the news: One of the most contentious bills to pass this week limits the ability of carbon capture pipeline companies to use eminent domain.
- Disagreement surrounding the bill was one of the main reasons lawmakers extended the session by two weeks.
- Rep. Steve Holt, R-Denison, supported the bill and condemned the way Republican lawmakers went "after one another," according to Iowa Capital Dispatch.
- "It's something that we don't normally see, and I hope we never see again," Holt said.
Zoom in: The bill comes as Iowa landowners have spent years sharing concerns over Summit Carbon Solutions building on their property using eminent domain.
The big picture: The pipeline is used to transfer captured carbon dioxide from ethanol facilities into underground storage in North Dakota.
- Environmentalists are mixed on the efficacy of the pipeline. Advocates say carbon capture reduces greenhouse gas emissions from ethanol plants, but it's unclear if that negates other concerns, such as soil degradation and potential leaks that could contaminate Iowa's land and water, according to Scientific American.
Lawmakers also passed a bill requiring Iowans on the state's expanded Medicaid program to work at least 80 hours per month.
- Gov. Kim Reynolds submitted a federal waiver requesting the requirement. If the waiver is approved, 171,000 people enrolled in the state's Medicaid expansion program could be affected, CBS 2 reports.
- Former Gov. Terry Branstad signed the state's expanded Medicaid program into law to provide health insurance for Iowans who don't qualify for the regular program, ICD reports.
Plus: Other bills that passed in the Legislature's final days include $14 million for para-educators and school staff, unemployment tax cuts for businesses and four weeks of paid parental leave to state employees who previously received none.
Yes, but: There was no action on lowering property taxes this year — a priority for House and Senate Republicans going into the session.
What's next: Republican leaders say they plan on meeting before the 2026 session to get more feedback from stakeholders, so they can pursue tax reform again, the Register reports.