http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/senatepane_1326.mp3
A Senate Committee voted unanimously to advance legislation that would make it more difficult for developers to take private land using eminent domain. KSMU's Missy Shelton reports.
The senate committee vote came after hours of testimony spread over two days.
One of those who testified was Loren Keen of Lebanon, Missouri.
He told the committee he's had two experiences with eminent domain...Both times he says the courts resolved the issue.
But Keen says not every property owner will have the resources to go to court when they're land is threatened with eminent domain.
The version of the bill the Senate Pensions Committee approved is more restrictive than the proposal that gained House approval.
The committee chairman is Republican Senator Jason Crowell of Cape Girardeau.
He gave his committee a version of the bill that prohibits the use of eminent domain for developments that are predominantly for economic development...The House banned eminent domain for developments that are solely for economic development.
Crowell says his standard provides more protection to property owners.
The senate committee approved Crowell's version of the bill, though several senators said their vote to move the bill out of committee did not mean they would support the bill on the senate floor.
Senate President Pro Tem Michael Gibbons of suburban St Louis says he's still studying the issue.
One of the democrats on the committee, Columbia Senator Chuck Graham says he's not sure how feels about the senate committee's version of the bill.
But he says he knows where he stands on the main issues.
Now that the bill has committee support, it moves to the senate floor where it's likely lawmakers will debate yet another version of the bill.