Posted on Mar 25, 2009 in News & Events
Tuesday, the Mississippi House voted 101-19 to override Gov. Barbour’s veto of HB 803 that would limit the use of eminent domain to direct public purpose. A two-thirds majority of 80 votes was needed to override the veto in the House. The Senate will most likely vote Thursday on the measure. Again, a two-thirds majority would be needed to override the veto.
Read MorePosted on Mar 24, 2009 in News & Events
Jackson, Mississippi – Despite overwhelming bipartisan support in both the Mississippi House and Senate for statutory eminent domain reform in the state, Gov. Haley Barbour returned HB 803 to the House without his approval yesterday. For his full statement and reasons for the veto visit the Governor’s website here.
Read MorePosted on Mar 23, 2009 in News & Events
The Mississippi Business Journal Online published the following article on March 20th regarding eminent domain legislation recently passed by the Mississippi Legislature in favor of private property ownership.
Barbour promises veto of HB 803
by Clay Chandler
Posted on Mar 12, 2009 in News & Events
In a release dated yesterday, the Associated Press reported that the Mississippi Legislature has given its final approval on HB 803 which would restrict the government’s use of eminent domain in private to private transfers. HB 803 is now before Governor Haley Barbour who has not yet indicated whether he would sign it into law or veto it. Gov. Barbour has indicated that he does not want to limit Mississippi’s ability to pursue large economic-development projects, like Toyota.
Read MorePosted on Mar 11, 2009 in News & Events
In a story published March 9, 2009 (“Gore might sell land for marina, after all”) by The Facts, Nathaniel Lukefahr reports that Wright Gore, III has begun negotiating with the various parties involved in the ownership of his family’s business, Western Seafood Co., to reorganize the business and the property on which it operates so that the property can be sold to the Freeport Economic Development Corporation (FEDC) for the marina project it began over 6 years ago.
Read MorePosted on Mar 3, 2009 in News & Events
Source: Alaska State Legislature’s House MajorityJuneau, Alaska – The Alaska State House today unanimously passed House Bill (HB) 49, legislation that strengthens Alaska property rights by adding permanent recreational structures to the inaccessible list for the exercise of eminent domain by local governments for the purpose of recreational development. Eminent domain could still be exercised for the purposes of economic development, like building schools, roads or utility infrastructure/upgrades.
Read MorePosted on Feb 26, 2009 in News & Events
NORFOLK, VA — Trial began yesterday in Norfolk Circuit Court regarding a condemnation action initiated by the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority (NRHA). A year ago, the NRHA sought to acquire 1 residential property and 3 commercial buildings by eminent domain as part of Old Dominion University’s (ODU) proposed redevelopment master plan. ODU claimed these properties were “blighted.” However, OCA member, Joseph Waldo, the attorney representing the property owners, has argued otherwise.
Read MorePosted on Feb 18, 2009 in News & Events
Yesterday, Reason Magazine posted a report by Trey Garrison about private property owners who are fighting the Army’s attempts to seize their ranches in Piñon Canyon, Colorado. The Army argues that the property is needed for the expansion of the Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site. Property owners, local communities and politicians oppose the takings arguing that the land grab would devastate local economies and the +$20 million annual agricultural and cattle industry in the region.
Read MorePosted on Feb 16, 2009 in News & Events
On Friday, NorthJersey.com reported that the city of Fairview may drop its opposition to the neighboring town of Cliffside Park’s condemnation of private property in Fairview’s jurisdiction. We previously posted an AP article about the dispute between the boroughs of Fairview and Cliffside Park regarding Cliffside Park’s attempt to take private property in Fairview. (See post January 21, 2009: “Eminent domain dispute between New Jersey towns; Property owner caught in the middle.”)
Read MorePosted on Feb 12, 2009 in News & Events
Statutory protection for Mississippians’ private property rights appears to be on the agenda for the current legislative session. Both the Mississippi House and Senate have recently passed separate bills to restrict the use of eminent domain to direct public purpose.
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