The Missouri State Legislature is considering a bill in response to a proposed electrical transmission line project. House Bills 640 and 795 were proposed by Rep. Nate Walker, R-Kirksville.

If passed, the legislation would:

• Ask utility companies to use existing project routes when building on private property
• Require all future routing to take place along boundary or section lines
• Require all projects to avoid impeding irrigation and use agricultural machinery
• Require 60% of all land acquired in eminent domain to be given voluntarily
• Provide tougher restrictions on how the utility company can use the land
• Limit the amount of pounds per square inch the company can put on the land
• Limit the number of times a utility company can apply to the Missouri Public Service Commission in pursuing eminent domain

Both bills are waiting to be assigned to committee.