Passed by the state legislature in 2015, Senate Bill 1812 requires the Texas Comptroller to collect information on entities holding the power of eminent domain, both public and private. The information will then be made available on a publicly accessible online database. Entities will be required to provide the following information:
- the entity’s full legal name;
- the entity’s address and public contact information;
- the name and contact information of the appropriate officer, or other person, representing the entity;
- the type of entity;
- the legal provision(s) granting the entity’s eminent domain authority;
- the focus or scope of the eminent domain authority granted to the entity;
- the earliest date the entity had authority to exercise the power of eminent domain;
- the entity’s taxpayer identification number, if any;
- whether the entity exercised its eminent domain authority in the preceding calendar year by filing a condemnation petition under Section 21.012, Property Code; and
- the entity’s Internet website address or, if the entity does not operate an Internet website, contact information to enable the public to obtain information from the entity.
SB 1812 enhances the capability of the Comptroller to collect information on eminent domain authority holders. A previous law, SB18, passed in 2011, required each eminent domain authority holder to identify themselves and to specify the legal foundation of their authority. The bill did not require them to elaborate on the scope of their powers, and did not compel reporting on entities formed after Dec. 31, 2012. The SB18 database is still available for online viewing. The SB1812 database is scheduled to come online later in 2016.
To view a copy of SB1812, click here.
To read Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar’s letter, click here.