US House Passes Eminent Domain Limitations Bill
The US House of Representatives recently passed the "Private Property Rights Protection Act of 2012." The Act prohibits the federal government and states and municipalities from exercising its power of eminent domain over property to be used for economic development if the state or municipality receives federal economic development funds during any fiscal year in which the property is so used or intended to be used. "Economic development" is defined as the taking of private property, without the consent of the owner, and conveying or leasing that property from one private person or entity to another for commercial enterprise. Any state or municipality violating this Act would render it ineligible for any federal economic development funds for two years.
The bill is now pending in the Senate. Many states, including Pennsylvania, passed similar statues in the wake of the US Supreme Court Kelo case.
