AUSTIN - Landowners considered it a big win Monday at the Texas Capitol as Gov. Rick Perry ceremonially signed SB 18, the eminent domain bill, into law.
Gov. Perry was joined by Joe Parker Jr., president of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) and Dave Scott, immediate past president of TSCRA.
Eminent domain reform has been a top priority of TSCRA for the past three legislative sessions.
"Today is a proud day for Texas landowners," said Parker. "After years of hard work, Texas has new eminent domain law that will protect the private property rights of Texans; something TSCRA has been working toward for a very long time.
"TSCRA would like to thank the Texas Legislature, Gov. Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, Speaker Joe Straus, and all who worked hard to ensure this bill become law," said Parker.
SB 18 reforms the eminent domain laws in Texas by requiring the following:
The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association is a 134-year-old trade organization representing more than 15,000 beef cattle producers, ranching families and businesses who manage approximately 4 million head of cattle on 51.5 million acres of range and pasture land, primarily in Texas and Oklahoma.