InfoHive – Eminent Domain

Iowa Legislature has spent a few years finding a solution to the ongoing issue of the use of eminent domain by private companies building CO2 pipelines. This year’s effort is,  House File 2104, that prohibits the use of eminent domain “for acquiring right-of-way for, constructing, or operating a pipeline that has the primary purpose of transporting carbon oxide.”

Landowners say “Build the carbon pipelines, just don’t do it with a heavy hand of government.”

The Gazette | Iowa landowners press Senate to ‘quit horsing around’ on eminent domain bill

Builders of a data center in Oklahoma offered local volunteer fire fighters a $250,000 donation to smooth things over. Clearly, they never met Oklahomans. The volunteer firefighters said no. Then publicly the Fire Chief said, “Money is the root of all evil.” 

@perfectunion

Bills to fine tune when data centers or ICE facilities can be built are everywhere. Is it NIMBY? Or, is it community standards? Or is it not treating landowners and neighbors with basic common decency? Who knows. 

Locals in Mississippi, Tennessee, and Florida have rejected ICE developments. The opposition is bipartisan and does not seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. 

Governing | ICE’s Detention Expansion Faces Local Resistance Nationwide

The Connecticut Legislature has fast tracked a bill for voter privacy. The bill will prohibit the use of voter registration information and exempts all ballots from public disclosure. The secrecy of the ballot box is en vogue again? Trés chic.

Governing | Connecticut Moves to Strengthen Voter Privacy in Sweeping Election Bill

Maine now has a law on the books to protect employees from workplace surveillance. At minimum employers must be transparent and disclose surveillance. Workers can also decline surveillance.

Route Fifty | States tackle transparency in early responses to workplace surveillance tech

A bill in Colorado will limit the state’s ability to access large troves of private data concerning Colorado residents. The bill’s authors and supporters is bipartisan. 

House Bill 1037 Prohibits the state from purchasing private data from 3rd parties without a warrant.

Colorado Politics | Colorado legislators, prosecutors clash over proposal to limit access to third-party data

More states want to limit the type of technology a government can buy. One version of this legislation is limiting purchases of drones made by companies owned by interests in certain counties. Want to guess the countries? If you said, China, you are today’s winner. Congratulations!

In Michigan this looks like House Bill 5331. This bill helps set up the ban on state agencies purchasing and operating drones from companies listed as concerns by the federal government. In short hand- no state funds for Chinese drones. Kansas has already passed something similar. 

Michigan Advance | Michigan House committee hears proposal to restrict state drone purchases

Those who have requested a Texas Attorney General opinion concerning data center development in Hood County, Texas include the Lt. Governor, a state representative, and now the Hood County Attorney. RQ-0633-KP

By changing state title laws to include manufactured homes in the definition of real property will unlock mortgage options for manufactured homes. This change would lead to cost savings for the owners of 27% to 65%.

New Hampshire addressed this in 1983 by defining real property to include dwellings connected to utilities.

Pew Charitable Trusts | States Hold the Keys to Greater Mortgage Access for Manufactured Home Buyers

2026 politics 101: Politicizing liquor licenses, and the renewal of licenses, as a way to control businesses that do something that state/local governments find displeasing. 

Does this also sound like the plot of a dystopian film? Maybe, or maybe officials don’t like that hotels are housing ICE and that issue arises during a liquor permit renewal hearing.

Minneapolis Star Tribune | Should Minneapolis deny liquor licenses to hotels that housed ICE agents? City Council debates it.

Governing | “Pulling or threatening liquor licenses without clear cause would be reckless and devastating to working people.”