Texas Eminent Domain Reform

Published June 12, 2019

During the 86th Texas Legislature (2019), Texas once again failed to pass meaningful eminent-domain reform for the third straight legislative session. The proposed reform bills, Senate Bill 421 and House Bill 991, were watered down after coming out of the House Committee. As a result, Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, and other supporters of the reform efforts were left unable to support the weakened bills, instead holding out for meaningful change. How did we get here?

 Historically, it is the government that is attempting to take property—for new roads, highways and other infrastructure projects. However, governments now delegate their power of eminent domain to private, for-profit companies.

Read the entire article in Texas Lawyer (subscription required).