Annapolis, MD – February 7, 2025 – At the request of Senator Justin D. Ready, Harris Eisenstein testified before the Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee in support of SB 657 and SB 661.
With over fifteen years of experience in eminent domain litigation, Eisenstein explained to the Committee why Maryland law fails to guarantee truly just compensation for those affected by eminent domain. Property owners and other condemnees currently cannot recover their legal and expert fees when losing property rights by force. SB 657 would correct this inequity by ensuring that condemnees receive both the fair market value of the property taken plus reimbursement for their litigation expenses.
He also urged support for SB 661, the Protect Maryland Farm Lands Act, which would require condemnors to pay 350% of the highest appraised value for farmland taken by eminent domain. He highlighted the impact of the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project (MPRP), a proposed 70-mile power line threatening farms in Baltimore, Carroll, and Frederick Counties.
For farmers, their land is “their livelihood and their legacy,” Eisenstein stated, emphasizing the difficulty of relocation. He called on lawmakers to pass both bills to ensure everyone affected by eminent domain receives full compensation for their loss.
Click here to read Harris’s full testimony.
If you have questions about eminent domain, land valuation, or related issues, contact Harris Eisenstein, heisenstein@rosenbergmartin.com.