Wildlife Association and many other landowner and agricultural groups to create public policy that protects the rights of landowners. In 2013, we successfully collaborated with other groups to affi rm that the ground- water beneath your land belongs to you. In 2011, we made some strides in eminent domain reform, and in 2017, we hope to go further. TSCRA and a growing coalition
of Texas-based organizations cre- ated a website, texansforproper-
tyrights.com, to serve as a source of information on meetings and to gather stories from landown- ers about their experiences with eminent domain, condemnation and other takings of their land. I urge you to go to texansfor-
propertyrights.com and click on the “Get Involved” button. That will take you to a page on which you can sign a petition that will show legislators the scope of the problem landowners face and will demon- strate that eminent domain reform is necessary. That page also has links that
will take you to the Eminent Do- main Reform Survey, another tool we will use to gauge landowner experiences and share that story with policy makers. You can also upload your story to
the site, in written or video form, so others can learn from your experi- ences. Our shared experiences and lessons learned will give substance to the messages that TSCRA mem- bers, leaders and staff will take to the state senators and state repre- sentatives to work toward eminent domain reform in 2017. Creating fairness in the eminent
domain process is an important pri- ority for TSCRA in the 2017 session of the Texas Legislature. Your help will be invaluable to the success of your association.
tscra.org F
Texans for Property Rights Initiative Launched
IFTEEN TEXAS-BASED ORGANIZATIONS HAVE FORMED THE TEXANS FOR PROPERTY Rights coalition, which will lead a grassroots initiative for meaningful
reform to state eminent domain laws. As the state population continues to grow at a rapid pace, there is an
increasing need for more property to build infrastructure for utilization of natural resources and to address transportation needs. While property owners recognize these demands, they also realize that their property rights must be better protected. In Texas, about 95 percent of the land is privately owned, which puts
the needs of the public in direct confl ict with the rights of Texas property owners. These confl icts are not willing buyer - willing seller transactions and often play out in expensive, time-consuming, stressful and unfair situations, resulting in bad outcomes for property owners. The Texans for Property Rights coalition is hosting meetings across
the state to allow property owners to learn how they can get involved and share their concerns on eminent domain. An overview of current laws and possible improvements will be provided by an eminent domain legal expert at the meetings. For more information regarding the Texans for Property Rights initia-
tive, visit the website at
texansforpropertyrights.com. The site includes information on the legislative efforts and serves as a place for property owners to share their eminent domain stories and sign a petition to sup- port the effort. Property owners are encouraged to visit this site to get involved and make their voices heard. Property rights are the cornerstone of Texas’ freedom, and they are
worth the fi ght. It is for this reason that these grassroots organizations have formed the Texans for Property Rights coalition. At this time, the growing coalition is comprised of Texas and Southwestern
Cattle Raisers Association, Texas Farm Bureau, Texas Wildlife Association, Texas Forestry Association, South Texans’ Property Rights Association, Texas Poultry Association, Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers Association, Independent Cattlemen’s Association, Texas Grain Sorghum Association, Plains Cotton Growers Inc., Corn Producers Association of Texas, Riverside & Landown- ers Protection Coalition, Texas Land & Mineral Owners Association, Texas Association of Dairymen and Texas Cattle Feeders Association.
December 2016 The Cattleman 89
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