By: Callegari, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Nichols) H.B. No. 2685
         (In the Senate - Received from the House May 6, 2009;
  May 7, 2009, read first time and referred to Committee on State
  Affairs; May 23, 2009, reported favorably by the following vote:  
  Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 23, 2009, sent to printer.)
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the landowner's bill of rights.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 21.0112(a), Property Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  Not later than the seventh day before the date [Before]
  a governmental or private entity with eminent domain authority
  makes a final offer to [begins negotiating with] a property owner to
  acquire real property, the entity must send by first-class mail or
  otherwise provide a landowner's bill of rights statement provided
  by Section 402.031, Government Code, to the last known address of
  the person in whose name the property is listed on the most recent
  tax roll of any appropriate taxing unit authorized by law to levy
  property taxes against the property.  In addition to the other
  requirements of this subsection, an entity with eminent domain
  authority shall provide a copy of the landowner's bill of rights
  statement to a landowner before or at the same time as the entity
  first represents in any manner to the landowner that the entity
  possesses eminent domain authority.
         SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, the attorney general's office shall prepare a new
  landowner's bill of rights statement under Section 402.031,
  Government Code, as added by Chapter 1201 (H.B. 1495), Acts of the
  80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007, to incorporate the general
  law changes made by the 81st Legislature and any constitutional
  amendments proposed by the 81st Legislature and approved by the
  voters. The attorney general's office shall consult with
  stakeholders regarding the draft of the statement. The statement
  shall be drafted in plain language.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect January 15, 2010.
 
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