Senator gives new life to Sandhills eminent domain bill
“A Sandhills-related eminent domain bill that didn’t get quite enough of the needed votes in February to move on in legislative debate has gotten an unexpected second wind.
The bill (LB155), introduced by Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon, would take away the ability for a private enterprise to piggyback on a government right to eminent domain.
Tuesday was the deadline for naming priority bills, and Sen. Robert Clements of Elmwood was still searching for one after he found out the two he had in mind would probably not be coming out of committee.
He had strongly supported LB155 and knew it had been just two votes shy of advancing, he said, and that Brewer was disappointed when the bill failed. He believes two more senators can be convinced to vote for it.
“Eminent domain for a private purpose was something I did not believe should be in law, especially if it’s going to be a particular industry benefiting from it,” he said. “I think it’s worth discussing again.”
While it would apply throughout Nebraska, the bill especially had been sought by residents of the Sandhills, some of whom said a neighbor should not be forced to allow a feeder power line to pass through their land to reach a bigger transmission line, such as the Nebraska Public Power District’s R Project.”
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Young, JoAnne. Fremont Tribune 19 March 2019.