Eminent Domain Bill Goes to the Governor

The bill regulating the use of eminent domain is going to the governor for his signature, after the state house passed the legislation today.

Concerns over local government’s use of the power to condemn private land for public use, arose after last year’s federal Supreme Court ruling in the Kelo versus New London Case.

That ruling allowed for a local government in Connecticut to condemn private land for a private development in the stated interest of economic development.

Six house members did not vote for the bill, including Germantown Republican Brian Kelsey. He says the bill doesn’t protect private land owners, especially in cities.

“I think we passed a bill that we say is protecting private property owners but in reality is not, and that’s why I voted against the bill. The biggest problem with the bill is that the fox is guarding the henhouse and the department of economic and community development is going to be the committee that determines whether or not we can give private property from one land owner to another private land owner.”

While the bill still allows land to be condemned for public uses like industrial parks, the developments now have to receive approval from the state department of Economic and Community Development.

Among the various bills relating to eminent domain this year, the Tennessee Farm Bureau sponsored this one, which exempts agricultural land from the definition of blight.