For immediate release:

Monday, March 19, 2007

For additional information please contact:

Aisling Kerins, Futurewise, (206) 343-0681

Len Barson, The Nature Conservancy of Washington, (206) 343 – 4345 x 314

Coalition Hails the Advance of Eminent Domain Measures

Members of the coalition to defeat I-933 urge quick passage of bills aimed at protecting the rights of landowners

OLYMPIA – Members of the coalition that came together to defeat Initiative 933 today applauded state lawmakers for moving quickly on key eminent domain bills that would:

• Guarantee the buy-back rights of private property holders; and,
• Halt abuses of the public notification process.

“These measures address real problems that exist today in the way Washington state governments can go about taking private property for public use,” said John Rose, Board Chair of The Nature Conservancy of Washington. “There is broad agreement – even among people who don’t often agree – that the Legislature is moving in the right direction with these eminent domain bills.”

Organizations that opposed Initiative 933 including Audubon Washington, Cascade Land Conservancy, Washington Chapter of the American Planning Association, Washington Conservation Voters, Washington Environmental Council and others have pledged to address real issues that were raised during the NO on 933 campaign. Eminent domain reform is one of those issues.

The bills are:

• SHB 2016 – This measure guarantees that citizens have the right of first refusal to buy back their property if a government takes their land under eminent domain and later determines the property is not needed.  The government must also offer previous owners their land back at the original purchase price.
• HB 1458 – This bill requires that governments mail or publish notices of eminent domain actions a full 15 days prior to any authorization or decision to condemn property.

"While Washington's eminent domain law is one of the most restrictive in the nation, we have encountered circumstances which point out the need for revision,” said Representative Larry Springer (D – 45). “This legislation was carefully crafted to address only those issues in order to provide property owners greater protections, and at the same time assure eminent domain remains a legitimate tool for needed public projects."

HB 2016 passed the House last week and is now in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

I believe HB 1458 is a critical step in the process to ensure eminent domain is only used for critical needs. This notification step is very important because so many people believe that they will already be notified when government is considering eminent domain,” said Representative Kevin Van De Wege (D – 24). “Some may consider it a small measure but to those that are affected by eminent domain it ensures that they will be treated fairly and have their say in the matter.”

HB 1458 was approved without dissent by the state House of Representatives and a similar measure was passed by the state Senate earlier in the session.  The two bills must now be reconciled before final passage. This bill has the support of Governor Christine Gregoire and Attorney General Rob McKenna. 

Aisling Kerins, Political Director for Futurewise said, “These are reasonable, common sense bills that will give additional protections to citizens facing eminent domain actions by Washington state governments. We support these bills because they help to assure that people are treated fairly.”

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