The proposed eminent domain constitutional amendment is pending at the 2012 Virginia General Assembly.  See 2012′s bills on the amendment, HJ 3 and SJ 3. 

If these bills pass the proposed amendment in the same form as last year, the amendment will be on the ballot in Fall 2012 for voter approval.   This blog, which until now has been silent on the topic, now weighs in as a source for information on the proposed amendment.

First, the con view.

Some have asserted that eminent domain authority can be (and is) set by statute, and a constitutional amendment is unnecessary.  They note that the General Assembly has heavily amended the statutes authorizing eminent domain to address (and arguably over-address) the Connnecticut-based Kelo case, thus making the amendment arguably unnecessary or at least premature, until the true impacts of the statutory amendments are known.  Thus, “Virginia would be wise to allow the 2007 reforms to be fully implemented before pursuing any additional legislation for a problem that may no longer exist.”  See Craig Wilson op end, “Eminent Domain Amendment Unnecessary in Virginia,” published March 5, 2011.

A major criticism of the proposed amendment is the cost to taxpayers.  Additional moneys will be required to condemn anything, even for scenarios in which the public purpose is unquestioned, like a condemnation for a needed school or an improvement to a crowded intersection.  Additional awards to landowners will be mandated for “lost profits” and “lost access”, heretofore not recognized as a property right (except for a complete or “unreasonable” loss of access).  The Roanoke newspaper said this:  “State lawmakers must take a more discerning approach and defeat this amendment. The constitution should be reserved for long-standing principles, not used as a test tube for untried feel-good measures. This is one experiment Virginia taxpayers cannot afford.”  See Roanoke Times editorial:  “A Costly Over-Reach on Condemnation: A proposed constitutional amendment would force taxpayers to pay more for roads and utilities.”

Although there is likely no real way to know the total fiscal impact, or the impact on individual projects being delayed or canceled because of additional cost, the official state fiscal impact study estimates the annual cost to taxpayers would be $36 million.  This is due to requirement that new sources of damage awards never before recognized will be added — lost profits and lost access. 

Please see full article below for more information.