HARRISBURG – Legislation sponsored by PA Senate State Government Committee Chairman Cris Dush (R-25) to protect and financially compensate targeted property owners against eminent domain abuse (Senate Bill 225) was once again approved by the Senate State Government Committee, on Tuesday, by a unanimous vote of 11-0.
“Pennsylvania’s eminent domain code sets into motion one of the most extraordinary and ominous wrecking-ball-powers of government: the authority to both condemn and confiscate private property,” Dush stated. “Fully supported by the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, I have introduced legislation to financially protect business and farm owners whose properties are seized through eminent domain by compensating for loss of goodwill.”
With eminent domain seizures continuing to occur across his home district, last January, Chairman Dush convened a public hearing in Bellefonte, Centre County to receive testimony regarding eminent domain abuse and its impact on the private property rights of farmers, job-creating employers; and homeowners.
Featured testifiers included: Jesse Darlington Jr., Centre County farm owner whose land is being targeted for potential confiscation as part of PennDOT’s Route 322 connector project and Scott Jacobs, small business owner, Fox’s Pizza Den, who was involved in a 10-year legal fight for just compensation. The complete public hearing and submitted testimony can be viewed here.
By ensuring that farmers and businesses are fairly compensated for any land they are forced to sell, Dush’s eminent domain protection legislation seeks to restore the inherent and indefeasible rights of enjoying life and liberty, and acquiring, possessing, and protecting property in the pursuit of happiness as specified in Article 1, Section 1 of the Pennsylvania Constitution.
“A farm that sits on top of soil that has been meticulously cared for, cultivated, and enriched over generations and a restaurant thriving inside of a community that it has served for decades both have a great deal of goodwill amassed into their locations,” emphasized Dush. “Forcing those operations to pick up and move destroys that goodwill, whether it’s a family farm or a downtown pizza shop, these free-market enterprises deserve substantial compensation.”
Senate Bill 225 now advances to the full Senate for consideration.
CONTACT: Ty McCauslin, Communications Director, at 717-787-7084 or tmccauslin@pasen.gov.