Winning! Landowner's Right of First Refusal Bill Sent to Governor
HB3159 made it successfully through the OK House and Senate and now awaits one signature to become law.
On Thursday, May 2nd at 10 am, the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) will auction off surplus land acquired through eminent domain at the Dakil Auction. The OTA is selling approximately 28 surplus properties across 7 counties.
Hopefully this is the last time the OTA is allowed to sell surplus lands acquired through the eminent domain process at auction without offering right-of-first refusal to the original homeowner or their heirs.
This right-of-first refusal citizen protection was recently included as an amendment to Title 27 of Oklahoma Constitution through House Bill 3159.
I wrote about HB3159 in a previous post
As a reminder, House Bill 3159, authored by Rep. Eric Roberts, Rep. Annie Menz, Rep. Toni Hasenbeck and Sen. Todd Gollihare, strengthens the Landowner’s Bill of Rights in Title 27, Section 18, by adding a clause that requires an agency to give first right of refusal to the original landowner or to the first generation of heirs for any “surplus” land acquired through the use of eminent domain authority. “Surplus” land is land that the agency thought they were going to use for a project and acquired through the eminent domain process, but never ended up needing. The sale price must be the lower of either the current market value or the price received by the landowner under the eminent domain sale.
Congratulations to Representatives Eric Roberts (R-OKC), Annie Menz (D-Norman), Toni Hasenbeck (R-Caddo) and Senators Todd Gollihare (R-Kellyville) and Shane Jett (R-Shawnee) for agreeing to author/co-author a citizen-led language bill and move it successfully through both sides of the legislature.
Congratulations also must go to the grass-roots advocacy efforts of the Oklahomans for Responsible Transportation.
The BIG party will come after the Governor signs it into law. Fingers crossed please!
See you at the auction May 2, 2024 at 10 am.
It promises to be quite the spectacle.
Are you interested in learning more and helping hold a rogue "state instrumentality” accountable to the people? PIKE OFF OTA (501 c4) and Oklahomans for Responsible Transportation, Foundation (501 c3) are leading the charge in legal injunctive avenues and legislative reform and they could use your help. They are trying to dismantle a corrupt Goliath within our state and are doing a great job. Be part of the solution!
www.pikeoffota.com
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