Image Credit: TN General Assembly
The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
The property rights protection bill, sponsored by Representative Bud Hulsey (R-Kingsport-District 2) in the House and Senator Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma-16) in the Senate, has been placed on the calendar for the full House Finance, Ways, and Means Committee after a unanimous vote in subcommittee on Wednesday.
Senate Bill 0480 (SB0480) is up for a full vote in the senate on Thursday, March 6th.
Tennesseans wishing to contact their senators about the bill, may find their contact information by using the Tennessee Elected Legislator Finder.
The legislation aims to protect property owners from eminent domain by eliminating the “blighted area” definition and replacing it with an updated, more modern “blighted property” definition.
The new definition allows property that is truly blighted to continue to be taken by eminent domain for public safety but protects well-kept code compliant property. The bill also includes better due process provisions for property owners.
House Bill 0444 (HB0444) will be heard in the House Finance, Ways, and Means Committee on March 11th, 2025.
Contact information for the committee’s members can be found below.
HB0444 Summary: As introduced, deletes the definition of “blighted area” and defines “blighted property” for purposes of condemnation by housing authorities; clarifies that housing authorities may acquire real property without using eminent domain; authorizes housing authorities to pay more than fair market value for properties that are not blighted but that are in a blighted area; makes other related changes.
Rep.gary.hicks@capitol.tn.gov, rep.john.gillespie@capitol.tn.gov, rep.charlie.baum@capitol.tn.gov, rep.clark.boyd@capitol.tn.gov, rep.karen.camper@capitol.tn.gov, rep.kip.capley@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jesse.chism@capitol.tn.gov, rep.mark.cochran@capitol.tn.gov, rep.john.crawford@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jeremy.faison@capitol.tn.gov, rep.bob.freeman@capitol.tn.gov, rep.ron.gant@capitol.tn.gov, rep.johnny.garrett@capitol.tn.gov, rep.rusty.grills@capitol.tn.gov, rep.michael.hale@capitol.tn.gov, rep.david.hawk@capitol.tn.gov, rep.tim.hicks@capitol.tn.gov, rep.bud.hulsey@capitol.tn.gov, rep.william.lamberth@capitol.tn.gov, rep.harold.love@capitol.tn.gov, rep.larry.miller@capitol.tn.gov, rep.debra.moody@capitol.tn.gov, rep.antonio.parkinson@capitol.tn.gov, rep.lee.reeves@capitol.tn.gov, rep.johnny.shaw@capitol.tn.gov, rep.mike.sparks@capitol.tn.gov, rep.kevin.vaughan@capitol.tn.gov, rep.ryan.williams@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jason.zachary@capitol.tn.gov
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
