Texas County Progress

The Official Publication of the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas

KEY CONCEPT: Eminent Domain

by

KEY QUESTION: What are the eminent domain reporting requirements for Texas counties?

MAIN REFERENCE POINT: Government Code Chapter 2206, Subchapter D

TALKING POINTS:

  1. In 2015, Senate Bill 1812 amended the law relating to transparency in the reporting and public availability of information regarding eminent domain authority.
  2. B. 1812 required the comptroller of public accounts of the State of Texas (comptroller) to create and make accessible an internet eminent domain database.
  3. The comptroller must, at least annually, update information in the eminent domain database.
  4. The statute requires Texas counties to send information to the comptroller to include in the database.
  5. Specifically, counties must complete an annual eminent domain report due on February 1.The report must be filed electronically with the comptroller.
  6. Counties should receive a reminder and a link for filing during the month of January. The link may be accessed at comptroller.texas.gov/transparency/local/eminent-domain/reporting.php.
  7. Section 2206.155 discusses the penalty for noncompliance, which includes a civil penalty of $1,000 for failure to respond to a written notice of noncompliance.