An Act to protect landowners from the use of deception, fraud, harassment, intimidation, misrepresentation, or threat, in acquiring easements for linear infrastructure or easement options.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of South Dakota:

Section 1. That a NEW SECTION be added to chapter 21-35:

A person employed by a public utility or by any private entity attempting to acquire easements an easement or easement options for linear infrastructure option, pursuant to this chapter, may not use any deception, fraud, harassment, intimidation, misrepresentation, or threat, to induce a landowner to grant an easement or easement option for the linear infrastructure.

An aggrieved landowner may bring an action in circuit court against any person alleged to have violated this section.

If the court determines that the person used deception, fraud, harassment, intimidation, misrepresentation, or threat, to acquire or attempt to acquire an easement or easement option from the landowner, the court must declare the executed easement or easement option void and may:

(1) Order any compensation paid for the any executed easement or easement option returned to the offending utility or non-public entity party;

(2) Order that the landowner may retain some or all of the compensation paid for any executed easement or easement option; or

(3) Award the landowner up to three times the amount of the greatest compensation involved offered or the amount paid for the easement or easement option as damages, punitive or compensatory;

(4) Issue an injunction against the offending party;

(5) In all subsequent negotiations for an easement or easement option:

(a) Require that the offending party communicate with the landowner through counsel;

(b) Appoint counsel to represent the landowner, if necessary; and

(c) Order the offending party to pay the landowner's legal fees; and

(6) Prohibit the person who engaged in deception, fraud, harassment, intimidation, misrepresentation, or threat from engaging with any third party in a negotiation or transaction to acquire an easement or easement option for a specified period of time or permanently.

If the court rules in favor or the landowner, the court must award costs and reasonable attorney fees to the landowner.

If the court determines a public utility, as defined in § 49-41B-2, or an employee or agent of the utility knowingly allowed, encouraged, engaged, or participated with the person using deception, fraud, harassment, intimidation, misrepresentation, or threat against the landowner, the court must order a copy of its decision to be filed with the Public Utilities Commission.

Upon receipt of the court's decision pursuant to this section, the commission may revoke or suspend any permit issued for the portion of the route affecting the aggrieved landowner. If a permit has not been issued with respect to a site or route affecting the aggrieved landowner, the commission may refuse to issue a permit for the portion of the route affecting the aggrieved landowner.

For purposes of this section, "linear infrastructure" means man-made structures that extend linearly across the landscape, including pipelines, railways, roads, and transmission lines.

Section 2. That a NEW SECTION be added to chapter 49-41B:

A land agent acting on behalf of a person operating or planning a pipeline facility carrying carbon dioxide must be a pipeline facility employee, a resident of the this state, or a real estate agent licensed in the this state.