Bill Supports North Dakota Landowners Caught in Costly Legal Battles

Sen. Jeff Magrum, R-Hazelton.  (Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor)

(Jeff Beach – North Dakota Monitor) – Sen. Jeff Magrum has not had much success backing bills that seek to protect landowner rights and curb the use of eminent domain and the development of carbon pipelines.

But Magrum, a Republican from Hazelton, got strong backing last week from Senate Majority Leader David Hogue on a bill that would allow landowners to recoup legal fees in eminent domain cases and easement negotiations.

“I love pipelines,” Hogue, R-Minot, said testifying in favor of House Bill 2321, “but that doesn’t mean the landowner shouldn’t be treated fairly.”

Landowners are asked to provide right-of-way on their land by developers of large infrastructure projects such as pipelines, power lines and roads. Landowners are compensated for that right-of-way, known as an easement, but how much they are paid is subject to negotiation between the developer and landowner.