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The Texas Farm Bureau today congratulated Sen. Craig Estes for introducing Senate Bill 10 for consideration in the Special Session of the Texas Legislature, which will convene Wednesday. SB 10 deals with eminent domain reform, which was only partially addressed in the regular session.

“SB10 is essentially the same legislation that Senator Estes filed as SB18 in the regular session,” said TFB President Kenneth Dierschke. “We encourage Governor Perry to add the issue to the special session call so that true eminent domain reform can be considered.”

Dierschke said SB10 should not interfere with Perry’s plans for a speedy special session. “This is not a controversial issue,” he said. “SB18 passed the Senate unanimously and there was overwhelming support in the House.”

SB 10, as in SB18, addresses a wide range of reforms regarding the Texas eminent domain process. Included are provisions requiring a good faith offer to Texas landowners and compensation for lost access to property. It also allows landowners to buy back their property at the same price if is not used for the intended purpose within 10 years.

“Several members of the Legislature, the Commissioner of Agriculture and many property rights advocates have asked the governor to add this issue to the call,” Dierschke said. “We believe Texas should address this issue of basic fairness sooner rather than later.”