Wyoming House approves eminent domain bill
“Despite opposition from the energy industry, the Wyoming House on Tuesday voted to approve a bill to require energy companies and others using the power of eminent domain to condemn private property to pay a landowner’s legal fees if the courts find they didn’t offer a fair price for the land.
The Senate later declined to accept some House amendments and appointed a conference committee to try to reach agreement.
The state commonly uses the power of eminent domain to condemn private lands for highway projects. Private industry also can use the law to get the right to use private land for construction of pipelines and other infrastructure.
As approved by the House, the bill would require the entity seeking to condemn a landowner’s property to pay the landowner’s legal fees and other costs if a judge determined that the fair market value of the land was at least 15 percent higher than the entity’s final offer.
The Senate had specified that the condemning entity would pay the landowner’s fees if a judge determined the fair market value was 10 percent or more above the final offer.”
Neary, Ben. Associated Press 26 February 2013.