Senate Bill 1303 Summary

• Prohibits eminent domain use for economic development purposes, except for housing authorities, urban renewal agencies, and competitively disadvantaged border community areas where property must meet strict conditions including endangering life, posing health risks, and threatening public welfare.

• Restricts eminent domain use for trails, paths, greenways, and ways for walking, running, hiking, bicycling, or equestrian use unless adjacent to a highway, road, or street.

• Urban renewal agency boards composed entirely of elected officials may exercise eminent domain, but boards including appointed commissioners may only act in an advisory capacity with final eminent domain decisions made by the local governing body.

• Requires urban renewal commissioners appointed by virtue of being local governing body members to vacate their appointment upon leaving elected office, though they may be reappointed or elected under standard procedures.

• Allows evidence of unlawful property conditions, safety violations, and public health impacts to be admissible in eminent domain proceedings for determining compensation, even without prior enforcement action by public officials.