Lawmakers: Cities shouldn’t use eminent domain for trails
“A plan to take away the government’s power to force Idaho residents to give up their land for trails and greenways is headed to the governor’s desk. The House voted 54-15 to pass the bill…
NC House backs restrictions on eminent domain
“In a 113-5 vote Tuesday afternoon, the N.C. House passed a bill to prevent government from seizing property for private development. The goal is to ban eminent domain in cases where government seizes property only…
It’s time to reign in eminent domain
“Eminent Domain, in the simplest of terms, allows governments to take private land and use it for public good. I have introduced HB 1696 as a way to provide greater transparency and oversight when private…
Open records push for projects like the Atlantic Coast Pipeline dies in House
“he push to open up records on projects like the Atlantic Coast Pipeline died in the House of Delegates on Thursday. House Bill 1696 was killed in committee on a near-unanimous voice vote. The bill,…
California’s New Tax Increment Financing Law Could Unlock Billions of Dollars
“When California Gov. Jerry Brown signed a new law on Sept. 29 to facilitate infrastructure financing, he gave hope to people in the Golden State and beyond that local governments would pick up where constrained…
It’s time for real eminent domain reform
“Many Texans may remember me, the former mayor of the small town of DISH in the Barnett Shale, for bringing attention to the health and environmental impacts of fracking a few years ago. But those…
Will city settle or scuffle to defend its building ordinance?
“There is a law named for him: the Bert J. Harris Jr. Private Property Rights Protection Act. According to the Coalition for Property Rights, “The Bert Harris Act was created to restore balance to the…
New Eminent Domain Law May Require Business-Litigation Approach To Condemnation Cases
“The Charlottesville paper recently ran an interesting story about how local road improvement projects will test the limits and scope of the Commonwealth’s new eminent domain law. The new laws are comprised of reforms passed…
CommStock Report
“U.S. transportation and energy infrastructure systems were often built with use of eminent domain. The power to appropriate private property for purposes considered to be a public use was frankly, necessary in order to build…
TransCanada rep helped Nebraska senator shape new law favouring pipeline
“A Republican state senator from Nebraska who introduced a law that could help TransCanada’s Keystone XL pipeline proposal get approval says his bill was drafted after “numerous conversations” with representatives from the Canadian company. “TransCanada…