Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Finally!
Somebody's actually paying attention. Florida is laying the smackdown on eminent domain:
Florida Governor Jeb Bush yesterday signed into law House Bill 1567, which provides home and business owners across the state with meaningful protection against eminent domain abuse. The bill, which passed the legislature with overwhelming support, prohibits localities from transferring land from one owner to another through the use of eminent domain for 10 years—effectively eliminating condemnations for private commercial development. HB 1567 also forbids the use of eminent domain to eliminate so-called “blight,” instead requiring municipalities to use their police powers to address properties that actually pose a danger to public health or safety.
It's difficult to say what new abuses will spring up in their wake, but at least the eminent domain thing is going down.
Florida Governor Jeb Bush yesterday signed into law House Bill 1567, which provides home and business owners across the state with meaningful protection against eminent domain abuse. The bill, which passed the legislature with overwhelming support, prohibits localities from transferring land from one owner to another through the use of eminent domain for 10 years—effectively eliminating condemnations for private commercial development. HB 1567 also forbids the use of eminent domain to eliminate so-called “blight,” instead requiring municipalities to use their police powers to address properties that actually pose a danger to public health or safety.
It's difficult to say what new abuses will spring up in their wake, but at least the eminent domain thing is going down.
Posted by Tom @ 5:21 PM 
