AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 5; Title 29, Chapter 17; Title 29, Chapter 16 and Title 65, Chapter 27, relative to eminent domain.
The bill is anticipated to impact state laws concerning eminent domain by instituting a greater degree of accountability in the use of public funds for property acquisition. By mandating this reporting requirement, the bill seeks to ensure that taxpayers are informed about expenditures and decisions made by the government regarding property it takes under eminent domain. This legislative change may prompt discussions among lawmakers regarding the appropriateness of current practices related to property acquisition and public use.
Senate Bill 1373 aims to amend the Tennessee Code Annotated regarding eminent domain regulations. The bill stipulates that the commissioner of finance and administration is required to report the total amount of state funds used to acquire property through eminent domain for the fiscal year 2021-2022. This report is to be submitted to the chairs of the finance, ways and means committees of both the senate and the house of representatives, as well as the office of legislative budget analysis by January 1, 2024. The intention behind this requirement is to enhance transparency about government spending in property acquisition via eminent domain.
While the bill aims to enhance transparency, there could be contention regarding the efficacy and implications of such a reporting requirement. Critics may argue that this measure does not do enough to address potential abuses of eminent domain or the rights of property owners. Furthermore, there may be debate over whether the financial reporting will result in substantive policy changes or merely serve as a bureaucratic layer without addressing deeper issues related to eminent domain and property rights.