REP. JOHNSON FILES LEGISLATION TO PROTECT PROPERTY OWNERS AFFECTED BY EMINENT DOMAIN

AUSTIN, TX – February 9, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — State Representative Eric Johnson (Dallas) has filed three bills to better protect Texans who stand to lose their property through eminent domain.

“Texans who stand to lose their property through eminent domain deserve a more fair and open process than they currently receive,” said Representative Johnson. “The legislation I am proposing will ensure that a property owner faced with losing his or her home, farm, or business through eminent domain will receive more detailed, comprehensible information throughout the condemnation process and will have less difficulty acquiring substitute property in the same community.”

HB 745 would require that a government entity exercising its power of eminent domain provide a property owner with documents printed in the language of the owner’s choosing, thus ensuring that a property owner fully understands the condemnation process and that government entities do not unfairly target immigrant communities.

HB 746 would require that a government entity provide enough compensation to a property owner to ensure a standard of living in the same community equal to that which the owner had prior to condemnation.

HB 747 would require a government entity to provide a property owner with documentation detailing the necessity of the property for public usage and allow the property owner to request detailed information pertaining to alternatives considered to condemnation.

Contact: Brent Rubin
512-463-0586