Lege trend: Limit Eminent Domain in Power Line Issues

What bill wants to limit eminent domain power in power line cases? Congressmen Boozman & Womack each filed the Assuring Private Property Rights Over Vast Access to Land, or APPROVAL, Act, which would rewrite Section 1222 of the 2005 Energy Policy Act

What is it they want to limit? Federal government eminent domain authority in power line construction.

Why do they want to limit federal eminent domain power? They want to shift leverage to the states in interstate power line construction.

Why is this imporant to 2 guys from Arkansas? There is a regional power line that Arkansas and Missouri have sought to block at the state level because neither state would receive power from the lines. The lines would simply traverse AR and MO. The feds may usurp the state’s power to block the line.

Why is this important to Texas? Mexico de-regulation will lead to power lines built in Texas that bring power to Mexico, and that raises the question whether there is a public use in Texas exactly like the Congressmen from Arkansas are addressing.

Southwest Times Record | Boozman, Womack Speak In Support Of Bill To Limit Eminent Domain