TO:	Honorable Joe Deshotel, Chair, House Committee on Land & Resource Management
FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB2730 by Deshotel (Relating to the acquisition of real property by an entity with eminent domain authority and the regulation of easement or right-of-way agents.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

The bill would amend the Government Code, Occupations Code, and Property Code relating to the acquisition of real property by an entity with an eminent domain authority and the regulation of easement or right-of-way agents. Provisions include a requirement that the landowner's bill of rights be reviewed and updated by the Office of the Attorney General every two years and a requirement of certain terms in an instrument of conveyance of easement. 

Based on information provided by the Office of Court Administration, the Office of the Attorney General, the Public Utility Commission, and the Real Estate Commission, the costs associated with the bill could be absorbed using existing resources. 

Local Government Impact

Based on information provided by Harris County, the bill's requirement that terms be added to conveyance documents could create a negative fiscal impact due to compliance challenges with respect to each acquisition differing and the circumstances needing evaluation on a case by case basis. Additionally, the requirements concerning extra meeting notices could pose additional costs for personnel.