Policy Brief: Eminent Domain Jurisdiction in Texas

May 13, 2015

In Texas’ five largest counties, eminent domain cases are neither filed nor tried in district court. Sec. 21.013(b), Property Code, requires that the cases be filed and tried in a county court at law in any county which has a county court at law with eminent domain jurisdiction.

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Restoring Private Property Rights: Regulatory Takings

Municipal regulations like zoning ordinances can infringe on private property rights and distort the housing market. Key points: Private property rights are under threat from municipal zoning ordinances and design mandates. Texas law has failed to adequately protect property owners from regulatory takings. By closing the municipal loophole, Texas can be the national leader in...

April 6, 2026

Local Government

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...

November 3, 2025

Election Integrity

Ban Foreign Funding in Ballot Propositions

Despite federal laws prohibiting foreign funding of candidate elections, foreign individuals and entities are still able to fund campaigns related to state and local ballot initiatives in multiple jurisdictions, creating a loophole that hostile foreign actors can exploit to influence American elections. Key points: Federal law prohibits foreign nationals from contributing to candidate campaigns or...

April 6, 2026

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