Sen. Hume’s SB 329 changes the deadline for a landowner in an eminent domain action to file an exception to the assessment of benefits or damages in an eminent domain action. Currently, it’s 20 days from when the clerk mails out the notice of the appraisers’ report, and under the new legislation, it increases to 45 days.
The general eminent domain procedures are here. But, basically, appraisers are appointed by the court and charged with determining the fair market value of property and improvements to be acquired and damages to remaining property by virtue of taking out the part sought to be acquired. The landowner can take the money or file exceptions, challenging the determination of the appraisers.
The State or gov’t entity can also file exceptions to the report of appraisers and challenge the amount the court-appointed appraisers reached.