Bill > H1400

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to prohibit the government from taking private property for private commercial or economic development purposes through eminent domain, which is the power of the government to take private property for public use, even if the owner does not wish to sell, provided just compensation is paid. Specifically, it declares that such takings for private commercial or economic development are not considered a "public use" under the state Constitution, thereby restricting the government's ability to seize land for these reasons. This amendment requires approval by a majority of all elected members in both the Senate and House of Representatives in a joint session, and then must be agreed to again in a similar joint session of the next legislative session before being put to a vote by the people in the subsequent state election.