SB 292 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to certain requirements in connection with the acquisition of real property for public use by an entity with eminent domain authority.

SB 292 requires entities with eminent domain authority (like government agencies or certain private companies) to provide property owners with a "Landowner’s Bill of Rights" statement when seeking to acquire property. This statement must clearly explain condemnation procedures, the owner’s right to refuse surveys or negotiate terms, the entity’s obligation to cover survey damages, and the owner’s right to appeal damage amounts. The bill also mandates that if an entity makes an initial offer for property not sought via condemnation, it must separately identify and offer compensation for that property. These changes directly affect property owners facing eminent domain actions and aim to increase transparency in acquisition processes.

Bill status passed 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 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Engrossed · 6 edits · Apr 10, 2025

MODERATE

This bill updates Texas eminent domain laws to strengthen landowner protections by clarifying rights during property acquisition, adding requirements for separating offers on condemned versus non-condemned property, and establishing new procedures for survey permissions and final offers.

Scope change

The bill applies to all governmental and private entities with eminent domain authority acquiring real property for public use, with one exception for transportation-related acquisitions under the Transportation Code.

REQUIREMENT

New Section 21.01101 requires survey permission forms to clearly state landowner rights to refuse entry, negotiate terms, appeal damages, and entity responsibility for survey-related damages.

New Section 21.0115 requires initial offers to separately identify and price real property that the entity does not seek to acquire by condemnation.

Section 21.0113(b) was expanded to define 'bona fide offer' with specific requirements including written appraisals, 14-day response periods, and contact information for entity representatives.

TIMELINE

New Section 6 requires the Attorney General to make the updated landowner's bill of rights statement available online by January 1, 2026.

New Section 8 establishes January 1, 2026 as the effective date for the bill's provisions.

DEFINITION

Section 21.0112(a) was modified to clarify when landowner's bill of rights statements must be provided to property owners.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

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 w/o amendments

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

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors