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Final Missouri House vote expected Thursday on eminent domain bill

A final House vote is expected Thursday on the bill blocking private companies, like Grain Belt Express, from using eminent domain. The bill is aimed at the proposed Grain Belt power line project in northern Missouri. A rally supporting the legislation packed the Capitol Rotunda Tuesday, but there’s opposition. If allowed to proceed, the line will provide affordable power to communities along its Northern Missouri path, said Ewell Lawson with the Missouri Public Utility Alliance.

“The question becomes is Missouri closed to new infrastructure, is it closed to lower-cost utilities, is it closed to economic prosperity and progress,” Lawson told Brownfield Ag News, “that’s the way we see this debate going.”

On the other hand, farmers should not have to face the challenge of property disruption by a private company, said Missouri Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe, who MC’d the rally in favor of the bill’s passage.

“I’m more interested in making sure that [farmers] can concentrate on producing food and doing what we do best here in Missouri than worry about fighting private companies trying to use eminent domain,” Kehoe told Brownfield following the rally.

The bill faces Senate consideration if it passes the House.