Senator Estes Receives Committee Chair Appointment
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PRESS RELEASE
Senator Craig Estes
Texas State Senate District 30
For Immediate Release
October 4, 2012
Contact: Jenna Dailey
512.463.0130
Estes to Chair Agriculture, Rural Affairs and Homeland Security Committee
Austin – State Senator Craig Estes (R – Wichita Falls) was today named as the chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Rural Affairs and Homeland Security by Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst for the upcoming 83rd Legislative Session.
Governor Dewhurst said, “This new responsibility will complement Senator Estes’ personal priorities and military presence in his District.”
Senate Passes Eminent Domain Reform Bill
Senator Craig Estes
Austin – The Texas Senate passed Senate Bill 18, by State Senator Craig Estes (R-Wichita Falls) which provides key reforms to the state’s eminent domain laws.
“Private property and the right to own and profit from it, are fundamental to not only our economic liberty, but also our personal liberty,” said Estes. “Senate Bill 18 provides meaningful eminent domain reform and strengthens the rights of property owners against the use of eminent domain by government or other condemning authorities,” said Estes.
Senate Bill 18 makes several key revisions to current law, including requiring that condemning authorities make a good faith offer before condemning procedures begin, prohibiting the taking of private property unless it is for a public use, improving notice and disclosure by condemning entities, applying condemnation rules to all condemning entities, and providing property owners with the opportunity to buy back property at the original purchase price if the taken property is not used for its public purpose in ten years. Continue reading →
