Iowa Legislature Struggles to Reach Deals on Property Taxes, Carbon Pipelines

Lawmakers aim to wrap up 2026 session in late April, but key issues remain unresolved

Mar. 24, 2026 at 9:28pm

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The Iowa Legislature is entering its 11th week without reaching agreements on property tax reform and regulations for carbon pipeline projects. House Republicans have incorporated some ideas from the governor and Senate GOP, but key lawmakers remain divided. The use of eminent domain for carbon pipelines is another unresolved issue, with the House passing a bill to prohibit it while the Senate has an alternative proposal that has not been debated.

Why it matters

Property taxes and carbon pipeline regulations are two of the most contentious issues facing Iowa lawmakers this legislative session. Failure to reach compromises on these matters could have significant impacts on homeowners, businesses, and the state's energy infrastructure plans.

The details

House Republicans have put forth a property tax proposal that includes some ideas from Gov. Kim Reynolds and Senate Republicans, but key lawmakers in the legislature remain divided on the details. Separately, the House passed a bill in January that would prohibit the use of eminent domain for carbon pipeline projects, while the Senate has an alternative proposal that has not yet been debated.

  • The Iowa Legislature plans to wrap up the 2026 session in late April.
  • The House passed a bill in January to prohibit eminent domain for carbon pipelines.

The players

Pat Grassley

The Speaker of the Iowa House of Representatives.

Mike Klimesh

The Iowa Senate Majority Leader, representing the Spillville district.

Kim Reynolds

The Governor of Iowa.

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What they’re saying

“Key lawmakers remain divided.”

— Pat Grassley, Iowa House Speaker

“Negotiations are ongoing as lawmakers continue searching for a compromise.”

— Mike Klimesh, Iowa Senate Majority Leader

What’s next

The Iowa Legislature plans to continue negotiations in the coming weeks in an effort to reach compromises on property taxes and carbon pipeline regulations before the scheduled end of the 2026 session in late April.

The takeaway

The inability of Iowa lawmakers to find common ground on these key issues highlights the partisan divides and challenges facing the legislature as it works to address important policy matters impacting the state.