Lawmakers OK bill banning use of eminent domain by cities

BOISE (AP) - The Idaho House passed a bill Monday that would take away the government's power to force Idaho residents to sell their land for trails and greenways.

The House voted 54-15 to pass the bill and then sent it to the governor for consideration.

Rep. Christy Perry, R-Nampa, said the power called eminent domain infringes on personal property rights. She says stripping the power from local governments would aid the fairness of negotiations with citizens being asked to sell the land.

"This is not a healthy relationship between the government and the private property owners," agreed Rep. Gayle Batt, R-Wilder. "We're here to protect the private property rights of our citizens."

Rep. Ilana Rubel, D-Boise, said eminent domain is rarely used and argued it would be nearly impossible for a city to form a strip of land long enough for a path or greenway unless the government could threaten to use that power.