'Pipeline Monday,' social issues dominate legislative coffee

Carbon pipeline bills hit Legislature next week

It doesn’t have the ring of, say, “Thank goodness it’s Friday,” but “pipeline Monday,” is coming nonetheless.

A host of bills dealing with controversial carbon pipelines get their first run through the legislative process Monday in the House State Affairs Committee. Landowners and local governments along the route of two carbon pipelines are resisting the projects, and lawmakers have responded with bills that seek to bolster landowner rights with regard to eminent domain and access to private lands.

“Pipeline Monday” was one of many issues that a handful of lawmakers addressed Saturday at a legislative coffee hosted by the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce. The first of three scheduled coffees, Saturday’s included lawmakers from Districts 6, 9 and 14. District 15 Sen. Reynold Nesiba also participated in order to offer a Democratic voice, as Districts 6, 9 and 14 have no elected Democrats.

NEWS: ‘Bastard stepchild of local government’ denied new taxation authority — again