LAWMAKERS AIM

Maryland Legislature Discusses Bills to Protect Farmland From Eminent Domain

• Matt Enright, menright@lancasterfarming.com
• 

A pair of bills in the Maryland Legislature would help protect farmland from being seized under eminent domain for energy projects.

House Bill 81 would require certain agricultural property seized to be valued at 350% of the highest appraisal value of the property, while Senate Bill 189 would prohibit the use of eminent domain on preserved farmland.

The bills were discussed Thursday at the House Economic Matters Committee and the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee respectively.

Sen. Benjamin Brooks, D-Baltimore County, said the bill is a response to the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project, a 70-mile high-voltage transmission line through Baltimore, Carroll and Frederick counties.

“Seizing these lands through construction of transmission lines FINISH READING HERE

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