Posted on Aug 19, 2014 in News & Events
On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina destroyed Dan B’s Restaurant and Bar on Beach Boulevard in downtown Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The popular beach front restaurant owned by the Murphy family featured a large deck on the beach overlooking the Bay of St. Louis.
Read MorePosted on Nov 10, 2011 in News & Events
On Tuesday with 73% of Mississippians voting in favor of property rights and limiting the use of eminent domain for private development, Initiative 31 was approved. Since the infamous 2005 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Kelo v. City of New London, 43 states have passed legislation creating stronger protections for private property owners against the power, and possible abuse, of eminent domain. Mississippi has now become the 44th state to reject the use of eminent domain for private development.
Read MorePosted on Nov 8, 2011 in News & Events
Voters in Mississippi are at the polls today to elect a new governor and legislature as well as decide upon a number of measures. Among them is Initiative 31, a citizen’s initiative for a constitutional amendment to prohibit the state and local governments from using the power of eminent domain to condemn private property and transfer it to another private individual or entity for a period of 10 years after acquisition. Initiative 31 has garnered much media attention and Campaign Insider has called this a “ballot battle to watch.”
Read MorePosted on Sep 16, 2010 in News & Events
Two Mississippi landowners have recently reached a $1.2 million settlement with the United States Navy regarding compensation for land taken for use by Special Boat Team TWENTY-TWO (SBT-22) as a special operations live-fire riverine training range along the Pearl River in Hancock County, Mississippi. SBT-22, based at John C. Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, is one of three Special Boat Teams.
Read MorePosted on Mar 26, 2009 in News & Events
Mississippi Senators voted Thursday to uphold Gov. Barbour’s veto of HB 803. Although 28 Senators voted in favor of overriding the veto, 22 Senators voted to sustain the veto and the required two-thirds majority vote for an override was not met. This is a dramatically different result than the unanimous vote just a few weeks ago in favor of HB 803 .
Read MorePosted on Mar 25, 2009 in News & Events
Tuesday, the Mississippi House voted 101-19 to override Gov. Barbour’s veto of HB 803 that would limit the use of eminent domain to direct public purpose. A two-thirds majority of 80 votes was needed to override the veto in the House. The Senate will most likely vote Thursday on the measure. Again, a two-thirds majority would be needed to override the veto.
Read MorePosted on Mar 24, 2009 in News & Events
Jackson, Mississippi – Despite overwhelming bipartisan support in both the Mississippi House and Senate for statutory eminent domain reform in the state, Gov. Haley Barbour returned HB 803 to the House without his approval yesterday. For his full statement and reasons for the veto visit the Governor’s website here.
Read MorePosted on Mar 23, 2009 in News & Events
The Mississippi Business Journal Online published the following article on March 20th regarding eminent domain legislation recently passed by the Mississippi Legislature in favor of private property ownership.
Barbour promises veto of HB 803
by Clay Chandler
Posted on Mar 12, 2009 in News & Events
In a release dated yesterday, the Associated Press reported that the Mississippi Legislature has given its final approval on HB 803 which would restrict the government’s use of eminent domain in private to private transfers. HB 803 is now before Governor Haley Barbour who has not yet indicated whether he would sign it into law or veto it. Gov. Barbour has indicated that he does not want to limit Mississippi’s ability to pursue large economic-development projects, like Toyota.
Read MorePosted on Feb 12, 2009 in News & Events
Statutory protection for Mississippians’ private property rights appears to be on the agenda for the current legislative session. Both the Mississippi House and Senate have recently passed separate bills to restrict the use of eminent domain to direct public purpose.
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