A group of lawmakers in South Dakota have filed a petition to call a special session of the legislature to address eminent domain laws in South Dakota. The call stems from landowners objections to the Summit Carbon Solutions carbon capture pipeline currently trying to be built through northeast South Dakota.
One of the lawmakers who signed the petition is District 3 Republican Representative Brandei Schafebauer. Schaefbauer has been a staunch proponent of landowners right both during the session and after, even writing an op ed in the Aberdeen Insider saying lawmakers failed landowners in not addressing this issue during normal session.
Schaefbauer would like to re-address House Bill 1133, which passed out of the house but failed in Senate Committee. The bill would have excluded Co2 as a common carrier, therefore forbidding eminent domain to be used to complete a project regarding it.
She says the special session is about providing peace of mind for landowners…
Schaefbauer says too much damage can be done between now and the next legislative session. That is why a special session is needed…
Lawmakers would need 2/3rds of both the House and Senate to agree to call a special session for one to happen. That or Governor Kristi Noem could call one herself. However, she has already said she would not do so for this situation.
Schaefbauer also says her and the group who signed the petition would also like lawmakers to look into the number of easements necessary private industry must get before eminent domain can be used…
