OP-ED | Eminent Domain on Steroids? A New Bill Threatens Cities and Towns
“How would you feel if a group of people who lived elsewhere in the state and whom no one had elected were to take over certain planning and zoning functions in your town or city…
Lawmakers attempt to halt controversial water project
“Central Texas lawmakers want to cut off at the knees a controversial water project by reining in a water supplier’s eminent domain powers and expanding the jurisdiction of local groundwater conservation districts. Residents near Wimberley,…
We Can’t Let the State Push Our Towns Around
“I’d like to share with you the testimony I gave today before the General Assembly’s Planning and Development Committee strongly opposing governor’s bill HB 6851, An Act Establishing the Connecticut Transit Corridor Development Authority. The…
Bill would punish bad faith eminent domain offers
“Entities exercising eminent domain authority could be on the hook for attorney and expert fees if they offer below market value for property under a bill considered by a Senate panel Monday. SB 474, by…
Proposed bill to restrict authority of IUB
“A recent bill referred to the Government Oversight Committee in the Iowa Legislature would limit the authority of the Iowa Utilities Board in granting franchise for the construction of transmission lines in Iowa. According to…
Littleton passes first-of-its-kind Colorado ordinance requiring voter approval on urban renewal
“Littleton voters Tuesday approved ballot measures reforming urban renewal in the city following a special election, making it unique among Colorado cities because it will now require voter permission to use state-sanctioned tools for…
TransCanada Is Seizing People’s Land To Build Keystone, But Conservatives Have Been Dead Silent
“For Julia Trigg Crawford, watching TransCanada construct the southern leg of the Keystone XL pipeline on a corner of her 600-acre farm was “gut-wrenching.” Crawford, who lives in Direct, Texas, had been trying since 2011…
Beginning of the End for the Map Act?
“The N.C. Court of Appeals handed down this month a ruling that strikes at the heart of a controversial piece of legislation known as the Map Act. Here at the John Locke Foundation, we have…
Deerfield adds US Department of Energy as defendant in action against gas pipeline
“A federal tort action filed by the town against the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission earlier this month has been amended to add the U.S. Department of Energy to the complaint as a defendant. Under the…
Locals react to proposed restrictions on eminent domain
“A bill has cleared Idaho’s Senate that specifically targets cities’ use of eminent domain to create hiking trails, bike paths and greenways. Some locals think the bill’s scope is too big. Senate Bill 1044 passed…