Just as Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt recently signed a bill into law protecting oil and gas companies from climate change lawsuits, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has done the same to protect farmers, ranchers and ethanol producers from such lawsuits.
The two states took the actions to block lawsuits that were filed to make polluters pay for climate-related costs. Republican Gov. Reynolds last week signed legislation to shield emitters from civil and criminal claims of climate-related harms tied to greenhouse gas emissions.
The bill passed the state House in February on a 66-24 vote with the support of four Democrats before clearing the state Senate in March on a 33-13 vote over opposition that included one GOP lawmaker.
Republican state Rep. Derek Wulf, the bill’s House sponsor, said the legislation was necessary to protect farmers, ranchers and ethanol producers from rising litigation threats. The bill also includes petroleum manufacturing, storage and dispensing.
State Rep. Derek Wulf, a farmer in Hudson, Iowa, introduced the legislation to protect farmers and ranchers from what he called “frivolous lawsuits” over “perceived greenhouse gases” during House debate in February, reported Inside Climate News.
Aaron Lehman with the Iowa Farmers Union was not “over the top” for the bill, explaining there was no evidence such lawsuits posed a threat to farmers in Iowa.
“We are not aware of any farmer or rancher who has been threatened by the types of legal challenges this law claims to protect them from,” wrote Lehman, of the Farmers Union, in an email to Inside Climate News.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed Senate Bill 1439 into law a few weeks ago, one of 33 measures he signed. Called the Energy Security and Independence Act, it was authored by Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville and Rep. Anthony Moore, R-Clinton.
It won’t be in effect until Nov. 1, 2026 but will prohibit most civil liability claims against companies that lawfully produce, manufacture, and sell fossil fuels, unless plaintiffs allege specific violations of environmental or labor laws.
Its stated intention is:
“To prohibit causes of action against those who lawfully produce, manufacture and sell fossil fuels and their trade associations, when this highly regulated product functions as designed and intended.”