Sec. 402.031. PREPARATION OF LANDOWNER'S BILL OF RIGHTS STATEMENT

(a) The attorney general shall prepare a written statement that includes a bill of rights for a property owner whose real property may be acquired by a governmental or private entity through the use of the entity's eminent domain authority under Chapter 21, Property Code.

(b) The landowner's bill of rights must notify each property owner that the property owner has the right to:

(1) notice of the proposed acquisition of the owner's property;

(2) a bona fide good faith effort to negotiate by the entity proposing to acquire the property;

(3) an assessment of damages to the owner that will result from the taking of the property;

(4) a hearing under Chapter 21, Property Code, including a hearing on the assessment of damages; and

(5) an appeal of a judgment in a condemnation proceeding, including an appeal of an assessment of damages.

(c) The statement must include:

(1) the title, "Landowner's Bill of Rights"; and

(2) a description of:

(A) the condemnation procedure provided by Chapter 21, Property Code;

(B) the condemning entity's obligations to the property owner; and

(C) the property owner's options during a condemnation, including the property owner's right to object to and appeal an amount of damages awarded.

(d) The office of the attorney general shall:

(1) write the statement in plain language designed to be easily understood by the average property owner; and

(2) make the statement available on the attorney general's Internet website.

Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1201 , Sec. 2, eff. February 1, 2008.