When the government determines that it wishes to take ownership of Texans’ land, the process used is known as eminent domain. “Eminent domain is the right or power of a sovereign state to appropriate
private property for the promotion of the general welfare” (PennEast Pipeline Company, LLC v. New Jersey, 2021). Here in Texas, once a parcel of land has been identified to be appropriated, and prior to a final offer on said parcel, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) must provide a Landowner’s Bill of Rights to the landowner of the parcel sought to be appropriated. The Landowner’s Bill of Rights outlines the rights of property owners in eminent domain proceedings. This section mandates that the OAG prepare a written statement to inform property owners of their rights when their property is being acquired by eminent domain. The Landowner’s Bill of Rights includes information on the condemnation process, the right to fair compensation, and the owner’s right to contest the taking. Senate Bill (SB) 292 introduces significant enhancements to the Landowner’s Bill of Rights regarding eminent domain properties.
Come and Build It: Housing Policy Reform in Texas
Texas is short more than 300,000 housing units, while 90% of Texans are worried about affordability. To ease these twin crises, policymakers passed an ambitious set of free-market-minded measures to boost supply and lower costs. Key points: The 89th Texas Legislature passed five key housing market reforms to increase supply, reduce government interference, and improve...