This week, Sen. Kolkhorst’s SB 474 , received a hearing in Senate State Affairs. To commemorate the occasion, TPPF released a paper supporting her bill.
TPPF offers 4 Key Points on why reimbursing property owners for fees and costs of eminent domain litigation is good public policy:
- “Texas property owners cannot rely on legislative oversight or the political process to protect them from negligent and abusive condemnation practices.
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High litigation costs prevent Texas property owners from vindicating their right to adequate compensation in court.
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Reimbursing attorney fees would enable Texans to pursue their rights and blow the whistle on the misuse of eminent domain.
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The Legislature should require courts to award legal fees to property owners if the final compensation for a condemned property is 10 percent or more greater than the initial offer. “