Blunt signs eminent-domain, small-business bills

House Bill 1944 changes eminent domain laws in Missouri by placing restrictions on the acquisition of private land for economic development and requiring compensation for condemned property that goes beyond fair market value.

Blunt held a bill-signing ceremony Thursday afternoon at Dave Collard’s farm near Oronogo in Jasper County. Blunt also appeared at a Fair Grove farm.

“The Kelo v. New London decision dealt a blow to homeowners and to property rights that I promised would be fixed this year,” Blunt said.

The U.S. Supreme Court decision allowed the city of New London, Conn., to use eminent domain to take an entire neighborhood for private development. Following the Supreme Court’s decision, individual states are now allowed to create their own eminent domain laws.

In response to the Supreme Court’s decision, Blunt formed the Missouri Task Force on Eminent Domain to find solutions that would better protect the rights of property owners. HB 1944 contains 16 of the 18 recommendations proposed by the task force.

Wilson said the most important priorities of the bill are to make eminent domain the last resort and to provide proper heritage value for owners of condemned property.

Condemned property owned by the same family for 50 or more years will receive a heritage value at 150 percent of the fair market value.

Association health plans

Blunt also was in southwest Missouri Friday morning.

He conducted bill-signing ceremonies in Springfield and Joplin for House Bill 1827, which will give small employers the option to join with larger firms in association health plans.

The new legislation will go into effect Aug. 28.