Nathan Macias - Texas State Representative District 73

Re-Elect Nathan Macias - Heart for Service, Heart for Texas

	TEXAS REPRESENTATIVE NATHAN MACIAS DISTRICT 73: Serving Bandera, Comal, Gillespie, and Kendall Counties
	For Immediate Release May 5, 2007	Contact: Adam Bell 512-463-0325

Macias Supports Property Owners Rights as Promised

Austin, TX - On Thursday the Texas House of Representatives gave its final approval to House Bill 1495. Representative Macias co-authored the bill, formally titled the Landowner's Bill of Rights Act. This bill provides landowners with full notice of their rights and options during the eminent domain condemnation process.

"A landowner faced with land condemnation deserves comprehensive disclosure with regard to what they are facing," said Representative Macias. "Currently, landowners don't receive any information about their rights and options, leaving them feeling pretty helpless and bewildered if their property faces condemnation."

The Landowner's Bill of Rights Act requires that governmental entities provide affected landowners with a ÒLandowner's Bill of RightsÓ statement which includes their rights to: notice, fair negotiation, compensation, and options to appeal a condemnation judgment. It also must be in plain language, readable type and easy to read and understand.

"If someone's home or property is condemned through the power of eminent domain, the facts should not be hidden in fine print that can only be deciphered by a lawyer," said Representative Macias. "The prospect of having one's home or property condemned is a sobering one and while there are some legitimate reasons for condemning private property, such as for a school, hospital, or a road, the affected landowner deserves a fair explanation of what is happening and how they can defend their home; this legislation requires that."

"I promised to work on behalf of fair treatment for property owners," Macias said. "This Act is one of several measures before the Texas Legislature aimed towards reforming the condemnation process in Texas. House Bill 3057 also passed on Thursday, reforming the process that cities may use to condemn blighted properties. Another measure, House Bill 2006, proposes several reforms to the condemnation process, and is due for deliberation on the House floor within a week."

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