Eminent Domain - Just Compensation - Fees and Costs

SB 451 amends Maryland's eminent domain law to require that property owners awarded compensation in condemnation cases receive reimbursement for legal, expert, and other fees or costs they incurred during the proceeding. This directly affects private landowners facing government takings, ensuring they are fully compensated beyond just the fair market value of their land. The key change adds a specific provision (Section 12-104(a)(2)) mandating these fees be included in the damages awarded. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, and does not alter the core compensation standard of fair market value.