Eminent domain in the news

Delaware's legislature has passed a bill to reform the sort of abuses of the power of eminent that were specifically permiited by the U.S. Supreme Court's Kelo decision. The Institute for Justice's Castle Coalition calls SB 245 "a good eminent domain reform bill" that "would prohibit cities from taking private property for economic development." The bill now goes to the desk of Gov. Ruth Ann Minner where its prospects are uncertain.

Meanwhile, in New Jersey, Sen. Ronald Rice accuses fellow Democrats of ducking committee meetings so they won't have to go on the record about proposals for eminent domain reform.

And a Missouri Supreme Court decision allows property owners to sue the government when officials name a parcel as a target for a taking effort -- and then drag the process out, lowering property values, driving away tenants and destroying businesses.

The Castle Coalition offers model state legislation for combating eminent domain abuses here. A report card on state-level reform efforts as of August 2007 is available here.