Property Rights Protection Act of 2025

SB 737, the Property Rights Protection Act of 2025, restricts the use of eminent domain (court-ordered property acquisition) for specific energy infrastructure projects in Maryland. It prohibits electric companies from using condemnation to build power lines and bans state/local governments from taking property encumbered by conservation easements or for constructing wind/solar generating stations. The bill amends Maryland law to explicitly remove condemnation rights for these projects, requiring companies to negotiate directly with property owners instead. This directly affects energy developers seeking to build power lines or wind/solar facilities and property owners holding conservation easements. The law does not impact condemnation for other infrastructure or energy projects.