The State Senate today passed a bill (S8349-A) cosponsored by Senator Bill Larkin (R-C, Cornwall-on-Hudson) to prohibit transportation corporations that are gas corporations and gas and electric corporations from exercising the right of eminent domain.

"Taking private property for public benefit should only be considered in the most extreme circumstances," said Senator Larkin. "Currently, there are organizations which are filing as ‘Transportation Corporations’ just so they can use eminent domain as a way of claiming privately owned property. This bill would help ensure that eminent domain is truly only used for the good of the public and when there is no other alternative, and not simply for the profit of private developers."

The bill was sent to the Assembly.