Bill allowing property owners to reclaim seized land signed into law

Bill Allowing Property Owners to Reclaim Seized Land Signed into Law

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 28th) – Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, today commented on the governor's signing of House Bill 1103, which requires the Oklahoma Transportation Commission to notify a previous property owner if the land they sold to the Commission is going to be offered for sale.

"This was a constituent request bill," Gann said. "This person experienced the taking of his land by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and then found out it was later sold without any notification to him. This would just give people in similar circumstances the ability to repurchase land that was taken from them by eminent domain."

Oklahoma officials celebrate cancellation of 18-mile-wide federal energy corridor crossing state

Property owners across the state are breathing a sigh of relief at the cancellation of an 18-mile-wide federal energy corridor, but by no means does that signal time to retreat and close eyes to future potential projects.

Numerous communities and groups across the state raised alarm over the project, culminating in a well-attended meeting at the Creek County Fairgrounds where House Speaker-elect Kyle Hilbert announced that the federal Department of Energy was removing designation that would have allowed eminent domain for the project, leading to its scrapping.

Dahm files bills on privacy, surveillance, and eminant domain abuse

State Sen. Nathan Dahm is on a tear during what he is dubbing 'Bill of Rights Week', filing legislation aimed at strengthening and bolstering constitutional rights for Oklahomans.

Featured in this post, two press releases on bills related to privacy, surveillance, and eminant domain abuse.

The Conservative View: Government Realty?

This week's Conservative View, by Adair County Commissioner Russell Turner (R-Stilwell).

The Conservative View
by Russell Turner

Government Realty?

For any city or area to grow the need for infrastructure is paramount. Without utilities and roads it is impossible to have good, healthy growth. In a perfect world easements that are needed for the roads and utilities could be purchased from the landowners and construction could start immediately. Sadly we do not live in a perfect world. Often the landowners have built their homes and improvements in the area where the land will be needed. When this happens it always creates friction between the landowner and the government agency that needs the land. I am a firm believer in the right of private property but I also understand the need for the greater good. If the need for the land is so great, every effort must be made to pay the affected landowner a fair price for his or her land. If the negotiations come to an impasse, the government can use eminent domain to force the sale of the land in question. I feel that eminent domain should only be used as a last resort and used as little as possible. At times the use of eminent domain has been abused and the landowner has become a victim of the government. There is a bill before the state legislature that, if enacted, could provide more protection for the citizens of Oklahoma.

House Bill 3053, by state Rep. Pat Ownbey, would force agencies to declare unused land surplus and offer to resell it to the original owner after 10 years. Many times land is taken for some project and then later, for a variety of reasons, the project will be canceled and the land will not be used for the purpose that it was originally taken for. This bill makes it possible for an individual to get their property back if it is not being used. For example, if a person’s land is taken to build a road on it and, for some reason the project falls apart, the original landowner should be able to get their property back even if the government would like to keep it for some future purpose. We citizens should not have to worry about the government taking our property unnecessarily. HB 3053 will give our citizens more protection from the improper use of eminent domain. Government should be in the business of protecting our liberties and freedoms and stay out of the Realty business.

If you wish to contact Russell Turner, or want to subscribe to his email loop, email him at rdrepublican@windstream.net.