Eminent domain is the government’s power to seize private property for public use without the owner’s consent—and Representative Myron Dossett is looking to protect property owners’ rights where it comes to that power.
Representative Dossett is the sponsor of House Bill 542, and says eminent domain and its usage has affected not just him personally, but many others across western Kentucky who were moved in 1940 due the creation of Lake Barkley.
He says the goal of this bill is to improve transparency for those dealing with eminent domain, and place penalties on entities that may act inappropriately when working with those property owners, while also making sure they have updated information.
Representative Dossett says it would allow the property owners to get their own evaluations done to allow for price negotiation, and he would limit how much time the parties spend in court.
The seizing entity would also be required to provide a written report to the court justifying the condemnation and allow a court to dismiss the action in the event adequate attempts to find an alternate location are not made.
The bill passed the full House unanimously, and now heads to the Senate for consideration.