Sen. Jeff Taylor

Maddy summarySF 70 amends Iowa law to redefine "political party" for election procedures. It specifies that a party qualifies if its candidate received at least 2% of the total vote for president or governor in either of the last two general elections, or if it has at least 2,000 registered members. This definition determines which parties are invited to send representatives to official election canvass meetings. The bill does not change voting rules or election outcomes, only the criteria for which groups receive procedural invitations. The state commissioner (or secretary of state) will verify a party's eligibility under this new standard.

Maddy summarySF 68 resets nomination filing deadlines for nonparty political organizations in Iowa elections to pre-2019 timing. It requires nominations for state offices (including president/VP) filed with the state commissioner to be submitted by the 73rd day before the November general election, and nominations for county or city offices filed with county officials by the 69th day before the election. These changes revert to earlier deadlines that were modified after 2019, affecting how political groups file candidate nominations and objections for state and local races. The bill makes technical adjustments to align all related filing timelines with these revised deadlines.

Maddy summarySF 136 establishes new safety rules and requirements for hazardous liquid pipeline projects in Iowa. It allows counties to set stricter setback and safety standards than state or federal law, requires pipeline companies to disclose safety studies when applying for permits, and mandates they negotiate voluntary easements with landowners before seeking eminent domain rights (especially for liquefied CO2 pipelines). The bill also updates compensation rules for landowners, ensuring payment for crop damage and soil erosion caused by pipeline construction. Additionally, it requires pipeline companies to obtain all necessary local and state permits before construction and sets specific safety conditions for liquefied CO2 pipelines, including minimum burial depth.

Maddy summarySF 92 amends Iowa law to require landowner consent before utilities can use eminent domain to condemn agricultural land for constructing hazardous liquid pipelines carrying liquefied carbon dioxide. The bill explicitly excludes such pipelines from being classified as a "public use" or "public purpose" for condemnation purposes, reversing a current exception that allowed utilities to bypass consent for similar projects. This directly affects Iowa agricultural landowners, who must now approve pipeline construction on their property. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment and applies to condemnation cases filed after that date.

Maddy summarySF 95 amends Iowa's eminent domain laws to raise the evidence standard for pipeline projects. It requires agencies seeking to condemn agricultural land for hazardous liquid pipelines (under Chapter 479B) to prove "public use" by "clear and convincing evidence" instead of the lower "preponderance of evidence" standard. This directly affects pipeline companies and landowners in agricultural areas, making it harder to acquire farmland for such projects without owner consent. The bill also clarifies that agricultural land cannot be condemned for "private development" without the owner's agreement. It takes effect immediately upon enactment and applies to condemnation cases filed after that date.

Maddy summarySF 74 repeals a specific Iowa law (Section 479B.15) that previously allowed pipeline companies to enter private land for surveys related to hazardous liquid pipeline projects by providing landowners with 10 days' written notice. This bill removes the requirement for pipeline companies to notify landowners before conducting surveys on their property. It directly affects landowners whose property might be surveyed for pipeline projects and pipeline companies seeking survey access. The repeal takes immediate effect upon enactment, eliminating this specific access provision.