A bill giving more protections for landowners fighting pipeline eminent domain won unanimous approval in a State House committee this week. Rep. Lee Denney’s HB 2276 was advanced by the House Judiciary and Civil Procedure committee.
The bill by the Cushing Republican would allow a landowner to file a request for judicial location exception if there is an objection to the location of a pipeline, utility line or other transmissions line during condemnation proceedings.
“It is something that was brought to my attention last fall by landowners in Payne County,” explained Denny. “And they just want to have a right of due process to say where these pipelines, transmission lines and utility lines might be placed on their property.”
As approved by the committee, the bill would also require a court hearing to determine if an alternative location for the right-of-way is possible. She also raised the issue of mental anguish during the committee hearing.
“My constituents have small pieces of land and they just feel like when the land has been in their family close to 80 to 100 years, that it’s very upsetting they can no longer use it for their uses, such as building homes, that causes them mental anguish.”
Following adoption of a committee subsitute, HB 2276 received the unanimous confirmation with a recommendation to move forward for full House approval.
