Oklahoma lawmakers revive eminent domain legislation: KSWO-TV7, Lawton OK, 2/13/07

Legislation that proposes new guidelines for the use of eminent domain in Oklahoma [was] approved by a state House subcommittee today.

That action revives the debate over the government practice that led to an initiative petition and state Supreme Court ruling last year.

The House Civil Justice Subcommittee passed a measure by Republican Representative John Wright of Broken Arrow.

The measure provides new guidelines for how to establish fair market value when the state expropriates private property without the owner's consent, either for its own use or on behalf of a third party.

A spokesman for a statewide business and industry group says it is opposed to the measure.

Wright's measure states that in eminent domain cases, the minimum amount due the owner is determined by the assessed value of the property from the prior year's tax assessment by the county where the property is located.

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KSWO-TV7, Lawton OK: http://www.kswo.com