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Senate passes eminent domain bill
CONCORD - The State Senate Wednesday voted 23-1 to support House Bill 648 related to protecting property from eminent domain.
State Sen. Jim Rausch, R-Derry, cast the dissenting vote.
Sen. Jeanie Forrester’s amendment, which she believes strengthens property owner’s rights over utility projects such as Northern Pass, would not stop the project but, she noted, it would limit threats of taking.
The Republican Senator from Meredith said the amendment was needed to help bolster Article 12A of the NH Constitution, passed in 2006 prohibiting takings of land from private property owners for private gain.
State Sen. Jeb Bradley R-Wolfeboro, who offered a competing amendment, said he was concerned the amendment ceded control to regional or federal regulators in determining whether a utility project was needed.
Sen. Sylvia Larsen, D-Concord, who voted to support the Forrester amendment also brought forward what she considered a jobs friendly amendment allowing for a study committee to look at burying transmission lines in state owned rights of way.State Senate to consider bill to restrict utility land taking
State Sen. Jim Rausch, R-Derry, cast the dissenting vote.
Sen. Jeanie Forrester’s amendment, which she believes strengthens property owner’s rights over utility projects such as Northern Pass, would not stop the project but, she noted, it would limit threats of taking.
The Republican Senator from Meredith said the amendment was needed to help bolster Article 12A of the NH Constitution, passed in 2006 prohibiting takings of land from private property owners for private gain.
State Sen. Jeb Bradley R-Wolfeboro, who offered a competing amendment, said he was concerned the amendment ceded control to regional or federal regulators in determining whether a utility project was needed.
Sen. Sylvia Larsen, D-Concord, who voted to support the Forrester amendment also brought forward what she considered a jobs friendly amendment allowing for a study committee to look at burying transmission lines in state owned rights of way.