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Eminent domain policy ballot measures

From Ballotpedia

Voters have decided oneminent domain policy ballot measures across the U.S. As a state ballot measure topic, eminent domain policy covers measures related to the government's power to take private property for public use, including restrictions on that power and compensation requirements. The topic is grouped within theinfrastructure policy area.

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Upcoming ballot measures

See also:2026 ballot measures and2027 ballot measures

The following is a list of state ballot measures related to this topic that are certified or potential for this year and future elections:

List of state ballot measures

Click the tabs to view state ballot measures related to this topic, organized by year or state.

Years
States

2026

  1. South Dakota Prohibiting the Transfer of Private Property to Non-Governmental Entities for Economic Development or Increased Tax Revenue Amendment (2026) - Potential

2012

  1. Virginia Eminent Domain Amendment, Question 1 (2012)Approved

2011

  1. Mississippi Eminent Domain Amendment, Initiative 31 (2011)Approved

2010

  1. Massachusetts Question 2, Repeal of Comprehensive Permitting Process for Subsidized Housing Initiative (2010)Defeated
  2. Nevada Question 4, Eminent Domain Amendment (2010)Defeated

2009

  1. Texas Proposition 11, Eminent Domain Restrictions Amendment (2009)Approved

2008

  1. California Proposition 98, Eminent Domain and Rent Control Prohibition Amendment (June 2008)Defeated
  2. California Proposition 99, Rules Governing Eminent Domain Amendment (June 2008)Approved
  3. Louisiana Blighted Property Act, Amendment 6 (2008)Defeated
  4. Louisiana Expropriated Property Act, Amendment 5 (2008)Defeated
  5. Nevada Question 2, Property Rights and Eminent Domain Initiative (2008)Approved

2007

  1. Texas Proposition 7, Sale of Eminent Domain Property Amendment (2007)Approved

2006

  1. Arizona Proposition 207, Eminent Domain Homeowners Rights Initiative (2006)Approved
  2. California Proposition 90, Limits on Government's Power of Eminent Domain Amendment (2006)Defeated
  3. Florida Amendment 8, Transfer of Property Taken Through Eminent Domain Amendment (2006)Approved
  4. Georgia Amendment 1, Eminent Domain Limitation Measure (2006)Approved
  5. Idaho Restrict Eminent Domain Initiative, Initiative 2 (2006)Defeated
  6. Michigan Proposal 06-4, Use of Eminent Domain Amendment (2006)Approved
  7. Nevada Question 2, Property Rights and Eminent Domain Initiative (2006)Approved
  8. New Hampshire Eminent Domain (2006)Approved
  9. North Dakota Taking of Private Property, Measure 2 (2006)Approved
  10. Oregon Measure 39, Eminent Domain Limitations (2006)Approved
  11. South Carolina Amendment 7, Eminent Domain Act (2006)Approved

2004

  1. Oregon Measure 37, Compensation for Land Use Restrictions that Decrease Property Value Initiative (2004)Approved

2002

  1. Maryland Eminent Domain Proceedings, Question 3 (2002)Approved

2000

  1. Maryland Property for Redevelopment Purposes, Question 2 (2000)Defeated

1996

  1. Maryland Harford County Property Issues, Question 6 (1996)Defeated

1990

  1. Oklahoma State Question 624, Compensation for Taking Private Lands Amendment (August 1990)Approved
  2. South Dakota Amendment A, Disposition of Private Property Measure (1990)Defeated

1988

  1. Maryland Land Acquisition in Anne Arundel County, Question 1 (1988)Defeated
  2. Utah Proposition 2, Require Reapportionment After US Census and Adjust Constitutional Language Amendment (1988)Approved

1983

  1. Louisiana Return of Expropriated Property Amendment (October 1983)Approved

1982

  1. California Proposition 3, Property Tax Reappraisal Due to Eminent Domain Amendment (June 1982)Approved
  2. North Dakota Eminent Domain Payment Choice Referendum, Measure 2 (1982)Approved

1980

  1. California Proposition 8, Restrictions on the Delta Usage Amendment (1980)Approved
  2. Maryland Land Acquisition in Wicomico County, Question 5 (1980)Defeated

1978

  1. Georgia Amendment 10, Compensation for Property Taken for Public Transportation Measure (1978)Approved
  2. Maryland Acquisition of Land in Anne Arundel County, Question 7 (1978)Defeated
  3. Maryland Land Acquisition in Kent County, Question 12 (1978)Defeated
  4. Maryland Repeal Authority for Land Acquisition in Montgomery County, Question 5 (1978)Approved

1976

  1. Maryland Acquisition of Land in Anne Arundel County, Question 20 (1976)Defeated
  2. Maryland Montgomery County Land Acquisition, Question 3 (1976)Defeated
  3. Massachusetts Question 4, Creation of Massachusetts Power Authority Initiative (1976)Defeated

1974

  1. California Proposition 7, Revisions to State Constitution’s Declaration of Rights Amendment (1974)Approved
  2. Maryland Provisions for Land in Anne Arundel County, Question 1 (1974)Defeated

1973

  1. Ohio Taking of Property of Sewer and Water Lines Amendment (May 1973)Defeated

1972

  1. Georgia Amendment 9, Relocation Assistance for Public Projects Amendment (1972)Approved
  2. Maryland Montgomery County Land Acquisition, Question 16 (1972)Approved
  3. Massachusetts Question 5, Environmental Constitutional Rights Amendment (1972)Approved

1970

  1. Arizona Proposition 101, Eminent Domain Compensation Amendment (1970)Approved

1968

  1. Maryland Anne Arundel County Land Acquisition, Question 2 (1968)Defeated
  2. Maryland Prince George's County Land Acquisition, Question 1 (1968)Defeated

1966

  1. Florida Amendment 11, Condemnation of Property Jury Amendment (1966)Approved
  2. Georgia Amendment 3, Eminent Domain and Removal of Advertisements Amendment (1966)Approved
  3. Maryland Authority to Take Land in Cecil County, Amendment 11 (1966)Approved
  4. Maryland Optional Procedure for Land Acquisition in Prince George's County, Amendment 6 (1966)Approved

1965

  1. New York Amendment 5, Authorizing Loans and Eminent Domain for the Development of Housing Facilities Amendment (1965)Defeated

1962

  1. Maryland Procedure for Taking Property in Baltimore, Amendment 1 (1962)Approved
  2. Maryland Procedure for Taking Property in Montgomery County, Amendment 3 (1962)Approved
  3. South Dakota Eminent Domain Process Amendment (1962)Approved

1961

  1. Alabama Eminent Domain, Amendment 5 (1961)Defeated
  2. Wisconsin Question 5, Municipal Eminent Domain Amendment (April 1961)Approved

1960

  1. Georgia Amendment 9, Payment for Taking Private Property Amendment (1960)Approved
  2. Maryland Optional Procedure for Land Acquisition in Baltimore County, Amendment 2 (1960)Approved
  3. Maryland Optional Procedure for Land Acquisition in Montgomery County, Amendment 7 (1960)Approved

1958

  1. California Proposition 10, Taking of Property for Schools and Airports Amendment (1958)Defeated

1956

  1. North Dakota Compensation Private Property Taken for Public Use, Referendum 5 (1956)Approved
  2. Washington HJR 22, Immediate Possession in Eminent Domain Amendment (1956)Defeated

1954

  1. Maryland Land Acquisition in Howard and Anne Arundel Counties, Amendment 5 (1954)Approved

1952

  1. Maryland Port Development and Land Acquisition, Amendment 1 (1952)Approved

1948

  1. Maryland Land Acquisition in Baltimore, Amendment 2 (1948)Approved
  2. Maryland Off-Street Parking in Baltimore, Amendment 6 (1948)Approved
  3. Wisconsin Question 1, Municipal Eminent Domain Amendment (1948)Defeated

1946

  1. Maryland Powers of the Baltimore Redevelopment Commission, Amendment 1 (1946)Approved

1942

  1. Maryland State Roads Commission Property Acquisition, Amendment 3 (1942)Approved

1936

  1. California Proposition 13, Allow Eminent Domain for Fairs and Expositions Amendment (1936)Defeated
  2. Washington Initiative 119, Production for Use Districts Measure (1936)Defeated

1934

  1. California Proposition 18, Water and Energy Use, Acquisition, and Development Amendment (1934)Defeated
  2. California Proposition 21, Taking of Right of Way and Reservoir Lands Amendment (1934)Approved

1930

  1. Missouri Proposition 6, Allow for Eminent Domain Initiative (1930)Defeated

1928

  1. California Proposition 10, Acquisition of Land for Public Improvements Amendment (1928)Approved
  2. California Proposition 9, State Right of Way Amendment (1928)Approved
  3. Colorado Measure 3, Eminent Domain for City Planning Amendment (1928)Defeated
  4. Michigan Land for Road Improvements Amendment (1928)Approved

1926

  1. Michigan Condemnation of Excess Property for Road Improvements Amendment (1926)Defeated

1924

  1. California Proposition 17, Eminent Domain Compensation Amendment (1924)Approved

1922

  1. Colorado Measure 10, Property Rights for Non-Citizens Amendment (1922)Defeated
  2. Michigan Excess Condemnation for Public Purposes Amendment (1922)Defeated

1920

  1. Michigan Condemnation of Excess Property Amendment (1920)Defeated
  2. Oregon Measure Nos. 300-301, Eminent Domain for Road Use Amendment (May 1920)Approved
  3. Washington Eminent Domain for Land Reclamation and Settlement Amendment (1920)Approved

1918

  1. California Proposition 13, Property Compensation Amendment (1918)Approved
  2. California Proposition 25, Eminent Domain Property Amendment (1918)Defeated
  3. Massachusetts Question 2, Eminent Domain for Conservation and Use of Natural Resources Amendment (1918)Approved
  4. Massachusetts Question 4, Authorize Eminent Domain for Preservation of Historic Property Amendment (1918)Approved

1915

  1. California Proposition 8, Condemnation for Public Purposes Amendment (October 1915)Defeated

1914

  1. Arizona Measure Nos. 320-321, Self-Assessment Property Tax and State Acquisition Initiative (1914)Defeated
  2. California Proposition 16, Taking of Neighboring Property Amendment (1914)Defeated
  3. California Proposition 31, Public Utilities Property Valuation Amendment (1914)Approved
  4. Wisconsin Question 7, Municipal Eminent Domain Amendment (1914)Defeated

1913

  1. Maryland Prohibit Laws Authorizing Taking Private Property, Amendment 1 (1913)Approved

1911

  1. California Proposition 5, Railroad Eminent Domain Amendment (October 1911)Approved
  2. Oklahoma State Question 25, Railroad Property and Eminent Domain Amendment (April 1911)Defeated

1908

  1. Oregon Measure Nos. 310-311, Free Rail Transportation for State Officers Referendum (June 1908)Defeated
  2. Washington Eminent Domain for Agricultural, Domestic, Sanitary, and Timber Right-of-Ways Uses Amendment (1908)Defeated

1906

  1. Washington Allow Eminent Domain for Right-of-Ways in Timber, Lumbering, and Mining Operations Amendment (1906)Defeated
  2. Washington Water Deemed Public Use for Irrigation, Mining, Manufacturing, and Timber Removal Amendment (1906)Defeated

1878

  1. Illinois Drainage and Ditches Amendment (1878)Approved

See also

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