Relating to the failure to disclose certain appraisal reports by an entity with eminent domain authority in connection with an offer to acquire real property.
This bill requires government agencies with eminent domain authority (like cities or utility companies) to send property owners certified mail copies of all appraisals used to value their land within the past 10 years when making an initial offer to buy it. If they fail to disclose these appraisals, they must pay the owner's reasonable attorney fees incurred during the acquisition process. The rule applies only to new acquisition offers made on or after September 1, 2025, not to deals finalized before that date. It directly affects property owners receiving such offers and aims to increase transparency in eminent domain proceedings.
Bill status
died
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Nov 2024
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Nov 12, 2024
Last action May 24, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Introduced
→
Engrossed
·
3 edits
·
Apr 10, 2025
MINOR
The bill text was reformatted and cleaned up to remove formatting artifacts and add proper bill identification information. The substantive policy content regarding appraisal report disclosure requirements for eminent domain entities remains unchanged.
TECHNICAL
Removed formatting artifacts, page numbers, and duplicate text that appeared in the original draft version.
Added proper bill identification header with sponsor name (Schwertner, Hall) and bill number (SB 291).
Corrected spacing and line breaks throughout the document to match standard legislative formatting.
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
36
Key actions
11
Committee
13
May 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
May 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
May 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
lower
May 19, 2025
Committee
Failed to receive affirmative vote in comm.
lower
May 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in committee
lower
May 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
lower
Apr 22, 2025
Committee
Referred to Land & Resource Management
lower
Apr 22, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
Apr 14, 2025
Introduced
Received from the Senate
lower
Apr 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
Mar 31, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
Mar 31, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
upper
Mar 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
Mar 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Left pending in committee
upper
Mar 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
Feb 3, 2025
Committee
Referred to State Affairs
upper
Feb 3, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
2 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Charles Schwertner
RRepublican
P
Gary Gates
RRepublican
Co
Bob Hall
RRepublican
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