Missouri law would protect producers during eminent domain case for utilities

The Missouri House of Representatives has given initial approval to eminent domain legislation that would protect agricultural land values for utility projects.

The bill’s sponsor, Representative Mike Haffner of Pleasant Hill, says the legislation levels the playing field for producers. “These farmers and ranchers keep coming in and they plead with us to make sure that they don’t want their farmland taken away and condemned. But they’re asking us if you’re going to force us to lose our land, please make sure we’re getting a fair market value for that.”

Under the bill, compensation for agriculture or horticulture land would be 150-percent of fair market value determined by the court.

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