Texas has taken some steps since Kelo in moving toward protecting its citizens from eminent domain abuse. The Legislature banned takings for economic development purposes in 2005, but left a big loophole allowing these to continue in the case of loosely-defined blight conditions.
Taxes & Spending
Just the Facts: Local Government Spending
Despite billions in property tax relief provided by recent state legislatures, Texans’ property tax bills continue to increase due to unrestricted spending at the local level. Key points: City and county government spending continues to outstrip increases in both population and inflation. While the state government has constitutional and statutory spending limits, local governments do...
August 10, 2026