Get thee to the Capitol.

On Thursday, March 19, at 3:00 p.m., Capitol Room 15, SF 1112 is on the agenda!

GET ON THE PHONE

GET ON THE COMPUTER

LET THEM KNOW YOU SUPPORT REPEAL OF Minn. Stat. 117.189!

Contact Senate Judiciary Committee (651-296-1279)  and get on the list to testify — tell them your story, what condemnation means for you and why you need the protections other landowners get — why utilities aren’t special!

SF1112 is the repeal of Minn. Stat. 117.189, which gave utilities (public service corporations) an exemption from many of the landowner protections in Minnesota’s eminent domain law.  The bill will be heard in the House Energy Committee soon.

Here’s the bill — it’s the repealer at the end that’s important:

1.1   A bill for an act
1.2   relating to eminent domain; repealing certain exemptions for public service
1.3   corporations;amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 117.225; repealing
1.4   Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 117.189.
1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6       Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 117.225, is amended to read:
1.7   117.225 EASEMENT DISCHARGE.
1.8   Whenever claiming that an easement acquired by condemnation is not being used
1.9   for the purposes for which it was acquired, the underlying fee owner may apply to the
1.10  district court of the county in which the land is situated for an order discharging the
1.11  easement, upon such terms as are just and equitable. Due notice of said application shall
1.12  be given to all interested parties. Provided, however, this section shall not apply to
1.13  easements acquired by condemnation by a public service corporation now or hereafter
1.14  doing business in the state of Minnesota.

1.15      Sec. 2. REPEALER.
1.16  Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 117.189, is repealed.

What to do?  Call or email every member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and House Energy Committee and tell them to support SF1112 and HF1182!

Here is the link to their contact info:

Members of Senate Judiciary Committee

Members of House Energy Committee