House Bill No. by Representative Owen amends R.S. 19:2 to prohibit foreign entities from conducting expropriation activities under certain conditions. The bill mandates that prior to filing an expropriation suit, the expropriating authority must attempt to reach a compensation agreement with the property owner. It allows expropriation only by specific domestic or foreign corporations and legal entities engaged in various public utility and infrastructure projects, while also introducing new provisions that explicitly restrict foreign entities from expropriating property unless they are incorporated or registered in the U.S. or have a reciprocal expropriation agreement with the U.S.

The proposed law includes several insertions that clarify these restrictions, specifically stating that the provisions do not apply to any foreign corporation, limited liability company, or other legal entity not incorporated or registered in the U.S. or the District of Columbia, as well as those whose country of primary ownership lacks a reciprocal expropriation agreement with the U.S. This legislative change aims to safeguard local property rights and ensure that foreign entities cannot expropriate property without meeting specific legal criteria.

Statutes affected:
HB37 Original: