No eminent domain bills are currently on the City Council's agenda. Mayor Anthony Williams, who is also the president of tlic National League of Cities, has spoken favorably of Kelo.
Maryland:
Senators Andrew Harris (R-Dist. 7), James DeGrange (D-Dist. 32), and State Delegate Don Dwyer, Jr. (R-Dist. 31) have independently announced their intent to sponsor or support legislation restricting eminent dom.iin. Harris lias also suggested amending the state constitution and plans to introduce a bill that will require a referendum each time local governments seek to use eminent domain to eliminate "blight." DeGrange says his bill wouldn't affect any development projects already underway.
North Carolina:
The State's constitution lacks its own express takings or eminent domain clause law (it relies on inferences from elsewhere in its constitution to control eminent domain), but the General Statutes already contain a provision restricting some uses of eminent domain. The General Assembly took no action in response to Kelo during its 2005 session, which ended in September.
South Carolina:
No eminent domain bills are yet on the House or Senate 2006 agendas, but in August Governor Mark Sanford (R) and the Legislature leadership publicly pledged to respond to Kelo. "The Kelo decision means thai we have to take a new look at and shore up existing laws rather than be forced to react later on down the road," Sanford said.
Virginia:
Months before Kelo was handed down, Delegate Bob Marshall (R-Dist. 13) introduced a bill to bar the use of eminent domain for economic development. The House Committee on Counties, Cities, and Towns tabled the bill in anticipation of Kelo. Marshall plans to resubm.it the bill during the 2006 session as well as seek an amendment to the Commonwealth's constitution.
West Virginia:
In September, Senator Clark Barnes (R-Dist. 15) introduced a bill expressing the Legislature's intent to prohibit, cither through legislation or constitutional amendment, takings for economic development. Delegate Cindy Frich (R-Dist. 44) plans to introduce a bill that would outlaw takings for economic development that transfer land to private hands.
Full Review Fed Reserve Bank Richmond, Marketwise issue III 2005 - States Respond to Kelo