Senate Bill No. 292 aims to enhance the rights of property owners in Texas regarding the acquisition of real property for public use by entities with eminent domain authority. The bill amends Section 402.031 of the Government Code to require that the "Landowner's Bill of Rights" statement includes specific information about the condemnation process, the obligations of the condemning entity, and the rights of property owners, including their right to refuse entry for examinations or surveys and to negotiate terms. Additionally, it mandates that any initial offer made by a condemning entity must separately identify any real property not sought for condemnation and provide distinct offers for those properties.

The bill also introduces new provisions regarding the permission form for property examinations, ensuring that property owners are informed of their rights to refuse permission and negotiate terms. It specifies that entities must provide a landowner's bill of rights statement when making initial offers and outlines the requirements for making bona fide offers, including the necessity of a written appraisal. The changes will take effect on January 1, 2026, and the Attorney General is tasked with making the updated landowner's bill of rights available online by that date.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 402.031, Property Code 21.0112, Property Code 21.0113 (Government Code 402, Property Code 21)
Senate Committee Report: Government Code 402.031, Property Code 21.0112, Property Code 21.0113 (Government Code 402, Property Code 21)
Engrossed: Government Code 402.031, Property Code 21.0112, Property Code 21.0113 (Government Code 402, Property Code 21)