Eminent domain events--House hearing and Institute for Justice press conference

Two upcoming eminent domain events.

Tomorrow the House Land & Resource Management Committee will take up several bills to give property owners more protection against eminent domain. Some of them are similar to each other--don't know how this will shake out. The hearing is tomorrow, 8 a.m., in the Capitol Extension hearing room E2.012

Among the bills on the agenda are these two comprehensive bills:

HB 4

Orr et al.
Relating to eminent domain, including certain limitations, procedures, and standards relating to the use of eminent domain.

HB 1483

Pitts et al.
Relating to the use of eminent domain authority.

The Pitts bill is the one being supported by the Texas Farm Bureau. However, the Orr bill is said to be identical, or very similar. Pitts's HB 1483 is said to include the provisions in HB 2006 that was passed by both houses in 2007, but was vetoed by Gov. 39%.

You can follow this hearing online by going to

http://www.house.state.tx.us/media/welcome.php

This hearing is scheduled to be on Livestream 3.

Institute for Justice press conference March 31

The IJ, the group that acted on behalf of Susette Kelo in her eminent domain case before the Supreme Court, will hold a press conference on the south steps of the Capitol on March 31 to release a report on the proposals to reform the eminent domain laws.

The IJ says, "Texas still has a ways to go until all of your homes, businesses, churches and farms are protected from eminent domain for private gain. IJ staff will be joined by affected property owners from Freeport, El Paso, San Antonio and Houston. We hope you will be able to join us, too! This is our opportunity to show the legislature that Texans still care about eminent domain abuse."

Press Conference on Eminent Domain Abuse in Texas Tuesday, March 31 @ 12pm South steps of the State Capitol 1100 Congress Avenue, Austin

"We encourage you to contact your representatives and tell them that you support strong eminent domain reform that earns Texas the A+ it deserves,"
(see: http://www.castlecoalition.org/pdf/publications/report_card/states/texas.pdf)
You can find out who represents you here: http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/.