1.1     CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT ON S.F. No. 2750&#10;1.2                                        A bill for an act&#10;1.3     relating to eminent domain; defining public use or purpose; prohibiting the use &#10;1.4     of eminent domain for economic development; requiring clear and convincing &#10;1.5     evidence for certain takings; providing for attorney fees and other additional &#10;1.6     elements of compensation; making other changes in the exercise of eminent &#10;1.7     domain; amending Minnesota Statutes 2004, sections 117.025; 117.036; 117.055; &#10;1.8     117.075, subdivision 1, by adding a subdivision; 117.085; 117.51; 117.52, &#10;1.9     subdivision 1, by adding a subdivision; 163.12, subdivisions 1a, 1b; proposing &#10;1.10    coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 117.&#10;1.11    May 12, 2006&#10;1.12    The Honorable James P. Metzen&#10;1.13    President of the Senate&#10;1.14    The Honorable Steve Sviggum&#10;1.15    Speaker of the House of Representatives&#10;1.16    We, the undersigned conferees for S.F. No. 2750 report that we have agreed upon &#10;1.17    the items in dispute and recommend as follows:&#10;1.18    That the House recede from its amendments and that S.F. No. 2750 be further &#10;1.19    amended as follows:&#10;1.20    Delete everything after the enacting clause and insert:&#10;&#10;<a id="go.0.1.0"></a>1.21        "Section 1. <ins><b>[117.012] PREEMPTION; PUBLIC USE OR PURPOSE.</b></ins>&#10;1.22        <ins>Subdivision 1.</ins> <ins><b>Preemption.</b></ins> <ins>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including </ins>&#10;1.23    <ins>any charter provision, ordinance, statute, or special law, all condemning authorities, </ins>&#10;1.24    <ins>including home rule charter cities and all other political subdivisions of the state, must </ins>&#10;1.25    <ins>exercise the power of eminent domain in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, </ins>&#10;1.26    <ins>including all procedures, definitions, remedies, and limitations. Additional procedures, </ins>&#10;1.27    <ins>remedies, or limitations that do not deny or diminish the substantive and procedural rights </ins>&#10;1.28    <ins>and protections of owners under this chapter may be provided by other law, ordinance, </ins>&#10;1.29    <ins>or charter.</ins>&#10;1.30        <ins>Subd. 2.</ins> <ins><b>Requirement of public use or public purpose.</b></ins> <ins>Eminent domain may </ins>&#10;1.31    <ins>only be used for a public use or public purpose.</ins>&#10;2.1         <ins>Subd. 3.</ins> <ins><b>Exceptions.</b></ins> <ins>This chapter does not apply to the taking of property under </ins>&#10;2.2     <ins>laws relating to drainage or to town roads when those laws themselves expressly provide </ins>&#10;2.3     <ins>for the taking and specifically prescribe the procedure. The taking of property for a project </ins>&#10;2.4     <ins>undertaken by a watershed district under chapter 103D or for a project undertaken by a </ins>&#10;2.5     <ins>drainage authority under chapter 103E may be carried out under the procedure provided </ins>&#10;2.6     <ins>by those chapters.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.0.2.0"></a>2.7         Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 117.025, is amended to read:&#10;2.8     <b>117.025 DEFINITIONS.</b>&#10;2.9         Subdivision 1. <b>Words, terms, and phrases.</b> <del>Unless the language or context clearly </del>&#10;2.10    <del>indicates that a different meaning is intended,</del> <ins>For the purposes of this chapter and any </ins>&#10;2.11    <ins>other general or special law authorizing the exercise of the power of eminent domain, </ins>the &#10;2.12    words, terms, and phrases defined in this section have the meanings given them.&#10;2.13        Subd. 2. <b>Taking.</b> <ins>"</ins>Taking<ins>"</ins> and all words and phrases of like import include every &#10;2.14    interference, under the right of eminent domain, with the possession, enjoyment, or value &#10;2.15    of private property.&#10;2.16        Subd. 3. <b>Owner.</b> "Owner" includes all persons <del>interested in such</del><ins> with any interest </ins>&#10;2.17    <ins>in the </ins> property <ins>subject to a taking, whether </ins>as proprietors, tenants, life estate holders, &#10;2.18    encumbrancers, <ins>beneficial interest holders, </ins>or otherwise.&#10;2.19        <ins>Subd. 4.</ins> <ins><b>Condemning authority.</b></ins> <ins>"Condemning authority" means a person or </ins>&#10;2.20    <ins>entity with the power of eminent domain.</ins>&#10;2.21        <ins>Subd. 5.</ins> <ins><b>Abandoned property.</b></ins> <ins>"Abandoned property" means property  that: (1) has </ins>&#10;2.22    <ins>been substantially unoccupied or unused for any commercial or residential purpose for at </ins>&#10;2.23    <ins>least one year by a person with a legal or equitable right to occupy the property; (2) has not </ins>&#10;2.24    <ins>been maintained; and (3) for which taxes have not been paid for at least two previous years. </ins>&#10;2.25        <ins>Subd. 6.</ins> <ins><b>Blighted area.</b></ins> <ins>"Blighted area" means an area: </ins>&#10;2.26    <ins>(1) that is in urban use; and</ins>&#10;2.27    <ins>(2) where more than 50 percent of the buildings are structurally substandard.</ins>&#10;2.28        <ins>Subd. 7.</ins> <ins><b>Structurally substandard.</b></ins> <ins>"Structurally substandard" means a building: </ins>&#10;2.29    <ins>(1) that was inspected by the appropriate local government and cited for one or more </ins>&#10;2.30    <ins>enforceable housing, maintenance, or building code violations;</ins>&#10;2.31    <ins>(2) in which the cited building code violations involve one or more of the following:</ins>&#10;2.32    <ins>(i) a roof and roof framing element;</ins>&#10;2.33    <ins>(ii) support walls, beams, and headers;</ins>&#10;2.34    <ins>(iii) foundation, footings, and subgrade conditions;</ins>&#10;2.35    <ins>(iv) light and ventilation;</ins>&#10;3.1     <ins>(v) fire protection, including egress;</ins>&#10;3.2     <ins>(vi) internal utilities, including electricity, gas, and water;</ins>&#10;3.3     <ins>(vii) flooring and flooring elements; or</ins>&#10;3.4     <ins>(viii) walls, insulation, and exterior envelope;</ins>&#10;3.5     <ins>(3) in which the cited housing, maintenance, or building code violations have not </ins>&#10;3.6     <ins>been remedied after two notices to cure the noncompliance; and </ins>&#10;3.7     <ins>(4) has uncured housing, maintenance, and building code violations, satisfaction </ins>&#10;3.8     <ins>of which would cost more than 50 percent of the assessor's taxable market value for the </ins>&#10;3.9     <ins>building, excluding land value, as determined under section 273.11 for property taxes </ins>&#10;3.10    <ins>payable in the year in which the condemnation is commenced.</ins>&#10;3.11    <ins>A local government is authorized to seek from a judge or magistrate an administrative </ins>&#10;3.12    <ins>warrant to gain access to inspect a specific building in a proposed development or </ins>&#10;3.13    <ins>redevelopment area upon showing of probable cause that a specific code violation has </ins>&#10;3.14    <ins>occurred and that the violation has not been cured, and that the owner has denied the local </ins>&#10;3.15    <ins>government access to the property. Items of evidence that may support a conclusion of </ins>&#10;3.16    <ins>probable cause may include recent fire or police inspections, housing inspection, exterior </ins>&#10;3.17    <ins>evidence of deterioration, or other similar reliable evidence of deterioration in the specific </ins>&#10;3.18    <ins>building.</ins>&#10;3.19        <ins>Subd. 8.</ins> <ins><b>Environmentally contaminated area.</b></ins> <ins>"Environmentally contaminated </ins>&#10;3.20    <ins>area" means an area:</ins>&#10;3.21    <ins>(1) in which more than 50 percent of the parcels contain any substance defined, </ins>&#10;3.22    <ins>regulated, or listed as a hazardous substance, hazardous material, hazardous waste, toxic </ins>&#10;3.23    <ins>waste, pollutant, contaminant, or toxic substance, or identified as hazardous to human </ins>&#10;3.24    <ins>health or the environment under state or federal law or regulation; and</ins>&#10;3.25    <ins>(2) for which the estimated costs of investigation, monitoring and testing, and </ins>&#10;3.26    <ins>remedial action or removal, as defined in section 115B.02, subdivisions 16 and 17, </ins>&#10;3.27    <ins>respectively, including any state costs of remedial actions, exceed 100 percent of the </ins>&#10;3.28    <ins>assessor's estimated market value for the contaminated parcel, as determined under section </ins>&#10;3.29    <ins>273.11, for property taxes payable in the year in which the condemnation commenced, or </ins>&#10;3.30    <ins>for which a court of competent jurisdiction has issued an order under law or regulations </ins>&#10;3.31    <ins>adopted by Minnesota or the United States, that clean up or remediation of a contaminated </ins>&#10;3.32    <ins>site occur and the property owner has failed to comply with the court's order within </ins>&#10;3.33    <ins>a reasonable time.</ins>&#10;3.34        <ins>Subd. 9.</ins> <ins><b>Public nuisance.</b></ins> <ins>"Public nuisance" means a public nuisance under </ins>&#10;3.35    <ins>section 609.74.</ins>&#10;4.1         <ins>Subd. 10.</ins> <ins><b>Public service corporation.</b></ins> <ins>"Public service corporation" means a </ins>&#10;4.2     <ins>utility, as defined by section 116C.52, subdivision 10; gas, electric, telephone, or cable </ins>&#10;4.3     <ins>communications company; cooperative association; natural gas pipeline company; crude </ins>&#10;4.4     <ins>oil, or petroleum products pipeline company; municipal utility; municipality when </ins>&#10;4.5     <ins>operating its municipally owned utilities; joint venture created pursuant to section 452.25 </ins>&#10;4.6     <ins>or 452.26; or municipal power or gas agency. Public service corporation also means a </ins>&#10;4.7     <ins>municipality or public corporation when operating an airport under chapter 360 or 473, a </ins>&#10;4.8     <ins>common carrier, a watershed district, or a drainage authority. Public service corporation </ins>&#10;4.9     <ins>also means an entity operating a regional distribution center within an international </ins>&#10;4.10    <ins>economic development zone designated under section 469.322.</ins>&#10;4.11        <ins>Subd. 11.</ins> <ins><b>Public use; public purpose.</b></ins> <ins>(a) "Public use" or "public purpose" means, </ins>&#10;4.12    <ins>exclusively:</ins>&#10;4.13    <ins>(1) the possession, occupation, ownership, and enjoyment of the land by the general </ins>&#10;4.14    <ins>public, or by public agencies;</ins>&#10;4.15    <ins>(2) the creation or functioning of a public service corporation; or</ins>&#10;4.16    <ins>(3) mitigation of a blighted area, remediation of an environmentally contaminated </ins>&#10;4.17    <ins>area, reduction of abandoned property, or removal of a public nuisance.</ins>&#10;4.18    <ins>(b) The public benefits of economic development, including an increase in tax base, </ins>&#10;4.19    <ins>tax revenues, employment, or general economic health, do not by themselves constitute </ins>&#10;4.20    <ins>a public use or public purpose.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.0.3.0"></a>4.21        Sec. 3. <ins><b>[117.027] CONDEMNATION FOR BLIGHT MITIGATION AND </b></ins>&#10;4.22    <ins><b>CONTAMINATION REMEDIATION.</b></ins>&#10;4.23        <ins>Subdivision 1.</ins> <ins><b>Buildings that are not structurally substandard in areas of blight </b></ins>&#10;4.24    <ins><b>mitigation; feasible alternatives.</b></ins> <ins>In taking property to mitigate blight, a condemning </ins>&#10;4.25    <ins>authority must not take buildings that are not structurally substandard unless there is no </ins>&#10;4.26    <ins>feasible alternative to the taking of the parcels on which the buildings are located in </ins>&#10;4.27    <ins>order to remediate the blight and all possible steps are taken to minimize the taking of </ins>&#10;4.28    <ins>buildings that are not structurally substandard. </ins>&#10;4.29        <ins>Subd. 2.</ins> <ins><b>Uncontaminated property in environmental contamination </b></ins>&#10;4.30    <ins><b>remediation areas; feasible alternatives.</b></ins> <ins>In taking property to remediate environmental </ins>&#10;4.31    <ins>contamination, a condemning authority must not take uncontaminated parcels in the area </ins>&#10;4.32    <ins>unless there is no feasible alternative to the taking of the uncontaminated parcels in order </ins>&#10;4.33    <ins>to complete remediation of the contaminated parcels and all possible steps are taken to </ins>&#10;4.34    <ins>minimize the taking of the uncontaminated parcels.</ins>&#10;4.35        <ins>Subd. 3.</ins> <ins><b>Contribution to condition by developer disallowed.</b></ins> <ins>If a developer </ins>&#10;4.36    <ins>involved in the redevelopment of the project area contributed to the blight or environmental </ins>&#10;5.1     <ins>contamination within the project area, the condition contributed to by the developer must </ins>&#10;5.2     <ins>not be used in the determination of blight or environmental contamination.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.0.4.0"></a>5.3         Sec. 4. <ins><b>[117.031] ATTORNEY FEES.</b></ins>&#10;5.4     <ins>(a) If the final judgment or award for damages, as determined at any level in the </ins>&#10;5.5     <ins>eminent domain process, is more than 40 percent greater than the last written offer of </ins>&#10;5.6     <ins>compensation made by the condemning authority prior to the filing of the petition, the </ins>&#10;5.7     <ins>court shall award the owner reasonable attorney fees, litigation expenses, appraisal fees, </ins>&#10;5.8     <ins>other experts fees, and other related costs in addition to other compensation and fees </ins>&#10;5.9     <ins>authorized by this chapter. If the final judgment or award is at least 20 percent, but not </ins>&#10;5.10    <ins>more than 40 percent, greater than the last written offer, the court may award reasonable </ins>&#10;5.11    <ins>attorney fees, expenses, and other costs and fees as provided in this paragraph. The final </ins>&#10;5.12    <ins>judgment or award of damages shall be determined as of the date of taking. No attorney </ins>&#10;5.13    <ins>fees shall be awarded under this paragraph if the final judgment or award of damages </ins>&#10;5.14    <ins>does not exceed $25,000. For the purposes of this section, the "final judgment or award </ins>&#10;5.15    <ins>for damages" does not include any amount for loss of a going concern unless that was </ins>&#10;5.16    <ins>included in the last written offer by the condemning authority.</ins>&#10;5.17    <ins>(b) In any case where the court determines that a taking is not for a public use or </ins>&#10;5.18    <ins>is unlawful, the court shall award the owner reasonable attorney fees and other related </ins>&#10;5.19    <ins>expenses, fees, and costs in addition to other compensation and fees authorized by this </ins>&#10;5.20    <ins>chapter.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.0.5.0"></a>5.21        Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 117.036, is amended to read:&#10;5.22    <b>117.036 APPRAISAL AND NEGOTIATION REQUIREMENTS </b>&#10;5.23    <del><b>APPLICABLE TO ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY FOR TRANSPORTATION </b></del>&#10;5.24    <del><b>PURPOSES</b></del><b>.</b>&#10;5.25        Subdivision 1. <b>Application.</b> This section applies to the acquisition of property &#10;5.26    <del>for public highways, streets, roads, alleys, airports, mass transit facilities, or for other </del>&#10;5.27    <del>transportation facilities or purposes</del><ins> under this chapter</ins>.&#10;5.28        <ins>Subd. 1a.</ins> <ins><b>Definition of owner.</b></ins> <ins>For the purposes of this section, "owner" means </ins>&#10;5.29    <ins>fee owner, contract purchaser, or business lessee who is entitled to condemnation </ins>&#10;5.30    <ins>compensation under a lease.</ins>&#10;5.31        Subd. 2. <b>Appraisal.</b> (a) Before commencing an eminent domain proceeding under &#10;5.32    this chapter, the acquiring authority must obtain at least one appraisal for the property &#10;5.33    proposed to be acquired. In making the appraisal, the appraiser must confer with one or &#10;5.34    more of the owners of the property, if reasonably possible. <del>At least 20</del> <ins> Notwithstanding </ins>&#10;5.35    <ins>section 13.44, the acquiring authority must provide the owner with a copy of each </ins>&#10;6.1     <ins>appraisal the acquiring authority has obtained for the property at the time an offer is </ins>&#10;6.2     <ins>made, but no later than 60 </ins>days before presenting a petition under section  117.055, <del>the </del>&#10;6.3     <del>acquiring authority must provide the owner with a copy of the appraisal</del> and inform the &#10;6.4     <del>owner of the owner's</del><ins> owner of the</ins> right to obtain an appraisal under this section.<ins> Upon </ins>&#10;6.5     <ins>request, the acquiring authority must make available to the  owner  all appraisals of the </ins>&#10;6.6     <ins>property. If the acquiring authority is considering both a full and partial taking of the </ins>&#10;6.7     <ins>property, the acquiring authority shall obtain and provide the owner with appraisals for </ins>&#10;6.8     <ins>both types of takings.</ins> &#10;6.9     (b) The owner may obtain an appraisal by a qualified appraiser of the property &#10;6.10    proposed to be acquired. The owner is entitled to reimbursement for the reasonable costs &#10;6.11    of the appraisal from the acquiring authority up to a maximum of $1,500 <del>within 30 days </del>&#10;6.12    <del>after the</del><ins> for single family and two-family residential property and minimum damage </ins>&#10;6.13    <ins>acquisitions and $5,000 for other types of property, provided that the </ins> owner submits to &#10;6.14    the acquiring authority the information necessary for reimbursement, <del>provided that the </del>&#10;6.15    <del>owner does so within 60 days after the owner receives the appraisal from the authority </del>&#10;6.16    <del>under paragraph (a)</del><ins> including a copy of the owner's appraisal,</ins> <ins> at least five days before </ins>&#10;6.17    <ins>a condemnation commissioners' hearing. For purposes of this paragraph, a "minimum </ins>&#10;6.18    <ins>damage acquisition" means an interest in property that a qualified person with appraisal </ins>&#10;6.19    <ins>knowledge indicates can be acquired for a cost of $10,000 or less. </ins>&#10;6.20    <ins>(c) The acquiring authority must pay the reimbursement to the owner within 30 </ins>&#10;6.21    <ins>days after receiving a copy of the appraisal and the reimbursement information. Upon </ins>&#10;6.22    <ins>agreement between the acquiring authority and the owner, the acquiring authority may pay </ins>&#10;6.23    <ins>the reimbursement directly to the appraiser</ins>.&#10;6.24        Subd. 3. <b>Negotiation.</b> In addition to the appraisal requirements under subdivision 2, &#10;6.25    before commencing an eminent domain proceeding, the acquiring authority must make a &#10;6.26    good faith attempt to negotiate personally with the owner of the property in order to &#10;6.27    acquire the property by direct purchase instead of the use of eminent domain proceedings. &#10;6.28    In making this negotiation, the acquiring authority must consider the appraisals in its &#10;6.29    possession<ins>, including any appraisal obtained and furnished by the  owner  if available,</ins> &#10;6.30    and other information that may be relevant to a determination of damages under this &#10;6.31    chapter. <ins>If the acquiring authority is considering both a full and partial taking of the </ins>&#10;6.32    <ins>property, the acquiring authority must make a good-faith attempt to negotiate with respect </ins>&#10;6.33    <ins>to both types of takings.</ins>&#10;6.34        <ins>Subd. 4.</ins> <ins><b>Use of appraisal at commissioners' hearing.</b></ins> <ins> An appraisal must not be </ins>&#10;6.35    <ins>used or considered in a condemnation commissioners' hearing, nor may the appraiser who </ins>&#10;7.1     <ins>prepared the appraisal testify, unless a copy of the appraiser's written report is provided to </ins>&#10;7.2     <ins>the opposing party at least five days before the hearing.</ins>&#10;7.3         <ins>Subd. 5.</ins> <ins><b>Documentation of business loss.</b></ins> <ins>Documentation related to a loss of </ins>&#10;7.4     <ins>going concern claim made under section 117.186, must not be used or considered in </ins>&#10;7.5     <ins>a condemnation commissioners' hearing unless the documentation is provided to the </ins>&#10;7.6     <ins>opposing party at least 14 days before the hearing.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.0.6.0"></a>7.7         Sec. 6. <ins><b>[117.0412] LOCAL GOVERNMENT PUBLIC HEARING </b></ins>&#10;7.8     <ins><b>REQUIREMENTS.</b></ins>&#10;7.9         <ins>Subdivision 1.</ins> <ins><b>Definitions.</b></ins> <ins>For the purposes of this section: </ins>&#10;7.10    <ins>(1) "local government" means the elected governing body of a statutory or home </ins>&#10;7.11    <ins>rule charter city, county, or township; and</ins>&#10;7.12    <ins>(2) "local government agency" means a subdivision, agency, authority, or other </ins>&#10;7.13    <ins>entity created by or whose members are appointed by the local government, including a </ins>&#10;7.14    <ins>port authority, economic development authority, housing and redevelopment authority, or </ins>&#10;7.15    <ins>other similar entity established under law.</ins>&#10;7.16        <ins>Subd. 2.</ins> <ins><b>Public hearing; vote by local government governing body.</b></ins> <ins>(a) If </ins>&#10;7.17    <ins>the taking is for the mitigation of a blighted area, remediation of an environmentally </ins>&#10;7.18    <ins>contaminated area, reducing abandoned property, or removing a public nuisance, a public </ins>&#10;7.19    <ins>hearing must be held before a local government or local government agency commences </ins>&#10;7.20    <ins>an eminent domain proceeding under section 117.055. The local government must </ins>&#10;7.21    <ins>notify each owner of property that may be acquired in writing by certified mail of the </ins>&#10;7.22    <ins>public hearing on the proposed taking, post the public hearing information on the local </ins>&#10;7.23    <ins>government's Web site, if any, and publish notice of the public hearing in a newspaper </ins>&#10;7.24    <ins>of general circulation in the local government's jurisdiction. Notice must be provided at </ins>&#10;7.25    <ins>least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the hearing.  </ins>&#10;7.26    <ins>(b) Any interested person must be allowed reasonable time to present relevant </ins>&#10;7.27    <ins>testimony at the public hearing.  The proceedings of the hearing must be recorded and </ins>&#10;7.28    <ins>available to the public for review and comment at reasonable times and a reasonable place. </ins>&#10;7.29    <ins>At the next regular meeting of the local government that is at least 30 days after the public </ins>&#10;7.30    <ins>hearing, the local government must vote on the question of whether to authorize the local </ins>&#10;7.31    <ins>government or local government agency to use eminent domain to acquire the property.</ins>&#10;7.32        <ins>Subd. 3.</ins> <ins><b>Resolution.</b></ins> <ins> If the taking is for the mitigation of a blighted area, </ins>&#10;7.33    <ins>remediation of an environmentally contaminated area, reducing abandoned property, or </ins>&#10;7.34    <ins>removing a public nuisance, then the resolution of a local government or local government </ins>&#10;7.35    <ins>agency authorizing the use of eminent domain must:</ins>&#10;8.1     <ins>(1) identify and describe the public costs and benefits that are known or expected </ins>&#10;8.2     <ins>to result from the program or project for which the property interest is proposed to be </ins>&#10;8.3     <ins>acquired; and</ins>&#10;8.4     <ins>(2) address how the acquisition of the property interest serves one or more identified </ins>&#10;8.5     <ins>public uses or public purposes and why the acquisition of the property is needed to </ins>&#10;8.6     <ins>accomplish those public uses or public purposes.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.0.7.0"></a>8.7         Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 117.055, is amended to read:&#10;8.8     <b>117.055 PETITION AND NOTICE.</b>&#10;8.9         <ins>Subdivision 1.</ins> <ins><b>Petition.</b></ins> In all cases a petition, describing the desired land, stating by &#10;8.10    whom and for what purposes it is proposed to be taken, and giving the names of all persons &#10;8.11    appearing of record or known to the petitioner to be the owners thereof shall be presented &#10;8.12    to the district court of the county in which the land is situated praying for the appointment &#10;8.13    of commissioners to appraise the damages which may be occasioned by such taking. &#10;8.14        <ins>Subd. 2.</ins> <ins><b>Notice.</b></ins> <ins>(a) </ins>Notice of the objects of the petition and of the time and place of &#10;8.15    presenting the same shall be served at least 20 days before such time of presentation upon &#10;8.16    all persons named in the petition as owners as defined in section  117.025, subdivision 3, &#10;8.17    and upon all occupants of such land in the same manner as a summons in a civil action. &#10;8.18    <ins>(b) The notice must state that: </ins>&#10;8.19    <ins>(1) a party wishing to challenge the public use or public purpose, necessity, or </ins>&#10;8.20    <ins>authority for a taking must appear at the court hearing and state the objection or must </ins>&#10;8.21    <ins>appeal within 60 days of a court order; and</ins>&#10;8.22    <ins>(2) a court order approving the public use or public purpose, necessity, and authority </ins>&#10;8.23    <ins>for the taking is final unless an appeal is brought within 60 days after service of the </ins>&#10;8.24    <ins>order on the party.</ins>&#10;8.25    <ins>(c) </ins>If any such owner be not a resident of the state, or the owner's place of residence &#10;8.26    be unknown to the petitioner, upon the filing of an affidavit of the petitioner or the &#10;8.27    petitioner's agent or attorney, stating that the petitioner believes that such owner is not &#10;8.28    a resident of the state, and that the petitioner has mailed a copy of the notice to the &#10;8.29    owner at the owner's place of residence, or that after diligent inquiry the owner's place &#10;8.30    of residence cannot be ascertained by the affiant, then service may be made upon such &#10;8.31    owner by three weeks' published notice. If the state be an owner, the notice shall be &#10;8.32    served upon the attorney general. Any owner not served as herein provided shall not be &#10;8.33    bound by such proceeding except upon voluntarily appearing therein. Any owner shall &#10;8.34    be furnished a right-of-way map or plat of all that part of land to be taken upon written &#10;8.35    demand, provided that the petitioner shall have ten days from the receipt of the demand &#10;9.1     within which to furnish the same. Any plans or profiles which the petitioner has shall be &#10;9.2     made available to the owner for inspection. &#10;&#10;<a id="go.0.8.0"></a>9.3         Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 117.075, subdivision 1, is amended to read:&#10;9.4         Subdivision 1. <b>Hearing on taking</b><ins><b>; evidentiary standard</b></ins><b>.</b> <ins>(a) </ins>Upon proof being &#10;9.5     filed of the service of such notice, the court, at the time and place therein fixed or to which &#10;9.6     the hearing may be adjourned, shall hear all competent evidence offered for or against the &#10;9.7     granting of the petition, regulating the order of proof as it may deem best.&#10;9.8     <ins>(b) If the taking is for the mitigation of a blighted area, remediation of an </ins>&#10;9.9     <ins>environmentally contaminated area, reducing abandoned property, or removing a </ins>&#10;9.10    <ins>public nuisance, then, notwithstanding any other provision of general or special law, a </ins>&#10;9.11    <ins>condemning authority must show the district court by preponderance of the evidence that </ins>&#10;9.12    <ins>the taking is necessary and for the designated public use.</ins>&#10;9.13    <ins>(c) A court order approving the public use or public purpose, necessity, and authority </ins>&#10;9.14    <ins>for the taking is final unless an appeal is brought within 60 days after service of the </ins>&#10;9.15    <ins>order on the party.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.0.9.0"></a>9.16        Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 117.085, is amended to read:&#10;9.17    <b>117.085 COMMISSIONERS, POWERS, DUTIES.</b>&#10;9.18    The commissioners, having been duly sworn and qualified according to law, shall &#10;9.19    meet as directed by the order of appointment and hear the allegations and proofs of all &#10;9.20    persons interested touching the matters to them committed. They may adjourn from time &#10;9.21    to time and from place to place within the county, giving oral notice to those present of &#10;9.22    the time and place of their next meeting. All testimony taken by them shall be given &#10;9.23    publicly, under oath, and in their presence. They shall view the premises, and any of &#10;9.24    them may subpoena witnesses, which shall be served as subpoenas in civil actions are &#10;9.25    served, and at the cost of the parties applying therefor. If deemed necessary, they may &#10;9.26    require the petitioner or owner to furnish for their use maps, plats, and other information &#10;9.27    which the petitioner or owner may have showing the nature, character, and extent of the &#10;9.28    proposed undertaking and the situation of lands desired therefor. In proper cases they &#10;9.29    may reserve to the owner a right-of-way or other privilege in or over the land taken, or &#10;9.30    attach reasonable conditions to such taking in addition to the damages given or they may &#10;9.31    make an alternative award, conditioned upon the granting or withholding of the right &#10;9.32    specified. Without unreasonable delay they shall make a separate assessment and award &#10;9.33    of the damages which in their judgment will result to each of the owners of the land by &#10;9.34    reason of such taking and report the same to the court. The commissioners shall not &#10;9.35    reduce the amount of the damages awarded because the land being taken is, at the time &#10;10.1    of the taking, valued under section  273.111, designated as an agricultural preserve under &#10;10.2    chapter 473H. The commissioners, in all such proceedings, may in their discretion allow &#10;10.3    and show separately in addition to the award of damages, reasonable appraisal fees not to &#10;10.4    exceed a total of <del>$500</del><ins> $1,500 for single family and two-family residential property and </ins>&#10;10.5    <ins>minimum damage acquisitions and $5,000 for other types of property, unless the appraised </ins>&#10;10.6    <ins>fee was reimbursed under section 117.036</ins>. Upon request of an owner the commissioners &#10;10.7    shall show in their report the amount of the award of damages which is to reimburse the &#10;10.8    owner and tenant or lessee for the value of the land taken, and the amount of the award of &#10;10.9    damages, if any, which is to reimburse the owner and tenant or lessee for damages to the &#10;10.10   remainder involved, whether or not described in the petition. The amounts awarded to &#10;10.11   each person shall also be shown separately. The commissioners shall, if requested by any &#10;10.12   party, make an express finding of the estimated cost of removal and remedial actions that &#10;10.13   will be necessary on the taken property because of existing environmental contamination. &#10;&#10;<a id="go.0.10.0"></a>10.14       Sec. 10. <ins><b>[117.184] COMPENSATION FOR REMOVAL OF LEGAL </b></ins>&#10;10.15   <ins><b>NONCONFORMING USE.</b></ins>&#10;10.16   <ins>(a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, an ordinance or regulation of a political </ins>&#10;10.17   <ins>subdivision of the state or local zoning authority that requires the removal of a legal </ins>&#10;10.18   <ins>nonconforming use as a condition or prerequisite for the issuance of a permit, license, or </ins>&#10;10.19   <ins>other approval for any use, structure, development, or activity constitutes a taking and </ins>&#10;10.20   <ins>is prohibited without the payment of just compensation. This section does not apply if </ins>&#10;10.21   <ins>the permit, license, or other approval is requested for the construction of a building or </ins>&#10;10.22   <ins>structure that cannot be built without physically moving the nonconforming use.</ins>&#10;10.23   <ins>(b) This section applies to an action of a political subdivision of the state or a local </ins>&#10;10.24   <ins>zoning authority occurring on or after the effective date of this act that requires removal </ins>&#10;10.25   <ins>of a legal nonconforming use as a condition or prerequisite for the issuance of a permit, </ins>&#10;10.26   <ins>license, or other approval.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.0.11.0"></a>10.27       Sec. 11. <ins><b>[117.186] COMPENSATION FOR LOSS OF GOING CONCERN.</b></ins>&#10;10.28       <ins>Subdivision 1.</ins> <ins><b>Definitions.</b></ins> <ins>For purposes of this section:</ins>&#10;10.29   <ins>(1) "going concern" means the benefits that accrue to a business or trade as a result </ins>&#10;10.30   <ins>of its location, reputation for dependability, skill or quality, customer base, good will, or </ins>&#10;10.31   <ins>any other circumstances resulting in the probable retention of old or acquisition of new </ins>&#10;10.32   <ins>patronage; and </ins>&#10;10.33   <ins>(2) "owner" has the meaning given in section 117.025 and includes a lessee who </ins>&#10;10.34   <ins>operates a business on real property that is the subject of an eminent domain proceeding.</ins>&#10;11.1        <ins>Subd. 2.</ins> <ins><b>Compensation for loss of going concern.</b></ins> <ins>If a business or trade is </ins>&#10;11.2    <ins>destroyed by a taking, the owner shall be compensated for loss of going concern, unless the </ins>&#10;11.3    <ins>condemning authority establishes any of the following by a preponderance of the evidence:</ins>&#10;11.4    <ins>(1) the loss is not caused by the taking of the property or the injury to the remainder;</ins>&#10;11.5    <ins>(2) the loss can be reasonably prevented by relocating the business or trade in the </ins>&#10;11.6    <ins>same or a similar and reasonably suitable location as the property that was taken, or by </ins>&#10;11.7    <ins>taking steps and adopting procedures that a reasonably prudent person of a similar age </ins>&#10;11.8    <ins>and under similar conditions as the owner, would take and adopt in preserving the going </ins>&#10;11.9    <ins>concern of the business or trade; or</ins>&#10;11.10   <ins>(3) compensation for the loss of going concern will be duplicated in the </ins>&#10;11.11   <ins>compensation otherwise awarded to the owner.</ins>&#10;11.12       <ins>Subd. 3.</ins> <ins><b>Procedure.</b></ins> <ins>In all cases where an owner will seek compensation for loss </ins>&#10;11.13   <ins>of a going concern, the damages, if any, shall in the first instance be determined by the </ins>&#10;11.14   <ins>commissioners under section 117.105 as part of the compensation due to the owner. The </ins>&#10;11.15   <ins>owner shall notify the condemning authority of the owner's intent to claim compensation </ins>&#10;11.16   <ins>for loss of going concern within 60 days of the first hearing before the court, as provided </ins>&#10;11.17   <ins>in section 117.075. The commissioner's decision regarding any award for loss of going </ins>&#10;11.18   <ins>concern may be appealed by any party, in accordance with section 117.145.</ins>&#10;11.19       <ins>Subd. 4.</ins> <ins><b>Driveway access.</b></ins> <ins>A business owner is entitled to reasonable compensation, </ins>&#10;11.20   <ins>not to exceed the three previous years' revenues minus the cost of goods sold, if the </ins>&#10;11.21   <ins>owner establishes that the actions of a government entity permanently eliminated 51 </ins>&#10;11.22   <ins>percent or greater of the driveway access into and out of a business and as a result of the </ins>&#10;11.23   <ins>loss of driveway access, revenue at the business was reduced by 51 percent or greater. </ins>&#10;11.24   <ins>Determination of whether the revenue at the business was reduced by 51 percent or greater </ins>&#10;11.25   <ins>must be based on a comparison of the average revenues minus the average costs of goods </ins>&#10;11.26   <ins>sold for the three years prior to commencement of the project, with the revenues minus </ins>&#10;11.27   <ins>the costs of goods sold for the year following completion of the project. A claim for </ins>&#10;11.28   <ins>compensation under this section must be made no later than one year after completion of </ins>&#10;11.29   <ins>the project which eliminated the driveway access. The installation of a median does not </ins>&#10;11.30   <ins>constitute elimination of driveway access.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.0.12.0"></a>11.31       Sec. 12. <ins><b>[117.187] MINIMUM COMPENSATION.</b></ins>&#10;11.32   <ins>When an owner must relocate, the amount of damages payable, at a minimum, must </ins>&#10;11.33   <ins>be sufficient for an owner to purchase a comparable property in the community and not </ins>&#10;11.34   <ins>less than the condemning authority's payment or deposit under section 117.042, to the </ins>&#10;11.35   <ins>extent that the damages will not be duplicated in the compensation otherwise awarded </ins>&#10;12.1    <ins>to the owner of the property. For the purposes of this section, "owner" is defined as the </ins>&#10;12.2    <ins>person or entity that holds fee title to the property.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.0.13.0"></a>12.3        Sec. 13. <ins><b>[117.188] LIMITATIONS.</b></ins>&#10;12.4    <ins>The condemning authority must not require the owner to accept as part of the </ins>&#10;12.5    <ins>compensation due any substitute or replacement property.  The condemning authority </ins>&#10;12.6    <ins>must not require the owner to accept the return of property acquired or any portion of the </ins>&#10;12.7    <ins>property.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.0.14.0"></a>12.8        Sec. 14. <ins><b>[117.189] PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATION EXCEPTIONS.</b></ins>&#10;12.9    <ins>Sections 117.031; 117.036; 117.055, subdivision 2, paragraph (b); 117.186; 117.187; </ins>&#10;12.10   <ins>117.188; and 117.52, subdivisions 1a and 4, do not apply to public service corporations. </ins>&#10;12.11   <ins>For purposes of an award of appraisal fees under section 117.085, the fees awarded may </ins>&#10;12.12   <ins>not exceed $500 for all types of property.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.0.15.0"></a>12.13       Sec. 15. <ins><b>[117.226] RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL.</b></ins>&#10;12.14   <ins>(a) Except as provided in sections 15.16, 160.85, 161.16, 161.20, 161.202, 161.23, </ins>&#10;12.15   <ins>161.24, 161.241, 161.43, 161.46, and 222.63, if the governing body of the condemning </ins>&#10;12.16   <ins>authority determines that publicly owned property acquired under this chapter has not </ins>&#10;12.17   <ins>been used and is no longer needed for a public use, the authority must offer to sell the </ins>&#10;12.18   <ins>property to the owner from whom it was acquired, if the former owner can be located. The </ins>&#10;12.19   <ins>offer must be at the original price determined by the condemnation process or the current </ins>&#10;12.20   <ins>fair market value of the property, whichever is lower, except to the extent that a different </ins>&#10;12.21   <ins>value is required for a property interest obtained with federal highway funding under </ins>&#10;12.22   <ins>United States Code, title 23. Before offering surplus property to local governments or for </ins>&#10;12.23   <ins>public sale under section 16B.282 or 94.10, the commissioner of administration or natural </ins>&#10;12.24   <ins>resources must offer to sell the property to the former owner as provided in this section.</ins>&#10;12.25   <ins>(b) If the former owner cannot be located after a due and diligent search or declines </ins>&#10;12.26   <ins>to repurchase the property, the attorney for the condemning authority shall prepare a </ins>&#10;12.27   <ins>certificate attesting to the same and record the certificate in the office of the county </ins>&#10;12.28   <ins>recorder or county registrar of titles, as appropriate, to evidence the termination of the </ins>&#10;12.29   <ins>right of first refusal. A recorded certificate to that effect is prima facie evidence that the </ins>&#10;12.30   <ins>right of first refusal has terminated.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.0.16.0"></a>12.31       Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 117.51, is amended to read:&#10;12.32   <b>117.51 COOPERATION WITH FEDERAL AUTHORITIES.</b>&#10;12.33   In all acquisitions undertaken by any acquiring authority and in all voluntary &#10;12.34   rehabilitation carried out by a person pursuant to acquisition or as a consequence thereof, &#10;13.1    the acquiring authority shall cooperate to the fullest extent with federal departments and &#10;13.2    agencies, and it shall take all necessary action in order to insure, to the maximum extent &#10;13.3    possible, federal financial participation in any and all phases of acquisition, including the &#10;13.4    provision of relocation assistance, services, payments and benefits to displaced persons. &#10;13.5    <del>An acquiring authority may consider reimbursing up to $50,000 in reestablishment </del>&#10;13.6    <del>expenses of a displaced business.</del>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.0.17.0"></a>13.7        Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 117.52, subdivision 1, is amended to read:&#10;13.8        Subdivision 1. <b>Lack of federal funding.</b> In all acquisitions undertaken by any &#10;13.9    acquiring authority and in all voluntary rehabilitation carried out by a person pursuant &#10;13.10   to acquisition or as a consequence thereof, in which, due to the lack of federal financial &#10;13.11   participation, relocation assistance, services, payments and benefits under the Uniform &#10;13.12   Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, United States &#10;13.13   Code, title 42, sections 4601 to 4655, as amended by the Surface Transportation and &#10;13.14   Uniform Relocation Assistance Act of 1987, Statutes at Large, volume 101, pages 246 &#10;13.15   to 256 (1987), are not available, the acquiring authority, as a cost of acquisition, shall &#10;13.16   provide all relocation assistance, services, payments and benefits required by the Uniform &#10;13.17   Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, as amended by &#10;13.18   the Surface Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance Act of 1987, and those &#10;13.19   regulations adopted pursuant thereto, and either (1) in effect as of <del>July 1, 1988</del><ins> January 1, </ins>&#10;13.20   <ins>2006</ins>, or (2) becoming effective after <del>July 1, 1988</del><ins> January 1, 2006</ins>, following a public &#10;13.21   hearing and comment. Comments received by an acquiring authority within 30 days after &#10;13.22   the public hearing must be reviewed and a written response provided to the individual or &#10;13.23   organization who initiated the comment. The response and comments may be addressed in &#10;13.24   another public hearing by the acquiring authority before approval.&#10;&#10;<a id="go.0.18.0"></a>13.25       Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 117.52, is amended by adding a subdivision &#10;13.26   to read:&#10;13.27       <ins>Subd. 1a.</ins> <ins><b>Reestablishment costs limit.</b></ins> <ins>For purposes of relocation benefits paid by </ins>&#10;13.28   <ins>the acquiring authority in accordance with this section, the provisions of Code of Federal </ins>&#10;13.29   <ins>Regulations, title 49, section 24.304, with respect to reimbursement of reestablishment </ins>&#10;13.30   <ins>expenses for nonresidential moves are applicable, except that the acquiring authority shall </ins>&#10;13.31   <ins>reimburse the displaced business for expenses actually incurred up to a maximum of </ins>&#10;13.32   <ins>$50,000.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.0.19.0"></a>13.33       Sec. 19. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 117.52, is amended by adding a subdivision &#10;13.34   to read:&#10;14.1        <ins>Subd. 4.</ins> <ins><b>Relocation assistance amount determined by administrative law </b></ins>&#10;14.2    <ins><b>judge.</b></ins> <ins>Notwithstanding any law or rule to the contrary, if a person entitled to relocation </ins>&#10;14.3    <ins>assistance under this section does not accept the acquiring authority's offer, the acquiring </ins>&#10;14.4    <ins>authority must initiate contested case proceedings under sections 14.57 to 14.66 for a </ins>&#10;14.5    <ins>determination of the relocation assistance that must be provided by the acquiring authority. </ins>&#10;14.6    <ins>The administrative law judge's determination of relocation assistance that the acquiring </ins>&#10;14.7    <ins>authority must provide constitutes a final decision in the case, as provided in section 14.62, </ins>&#10;14.8    <ins>subdivision 4. The acquiring authority must pay all costs of the proceedings. "Costs" is </ins>&#10;14.9    <ins>defined in section 15.471, subdivision 4, and also includes charges billed by the Office of </ins>&#10;14.10   <ins>Administrative Hearings for the proceedings.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.0.20.0"></a>14.11       Sec. 20. <ins><b>REVISOR'S INSTRUCTION.</b></ins>&#10;14.12   <ins>The revisor shall change the phrase "right of eminent domain" where found in </ins>&#10;14.13   <ins>Minnesota Statutes and Minnesota Rules to "power of eminent domain."</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.0.21.0"></a>14.14       Sec. 21. <ins><b> REPEALER.</b></ins>&#10;14.15   <ins>Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 117.011,</ins><ins> is repealed.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.0.22.0"></a>14.16       Sec. 22. <ins><b>EFFECTIVE DATE.</b></ins>&#10;14.17   <ins>(a) This act is effective the day following final enactment and applies to actions </ins>&#10;14.18   <ins>commenced on or after that date. Section 15 applies to the disposition of property acquired </ins>&#10;14.19   <ins>by actions commenced on or after that date.</ins>&#10;14.20   <ins>(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), the provisions of this act do not apply to actions </ins>&#10;14.21   <ins>commenced on or before February 1, 2008, for a project that satisfies one of the following </ins>&#10;14.22   <ins>conditions:</ins>&#10;14.23   <ins>(1) with respect to property identified as intended to be acquired in a tax increment </ins>&#10;14.24   <ins>financing plan, as approved by the municipality by February 1, 2006, if the condemning </ins>&#10;14.25   <ins>authority has satisfied one or more of the following conditions in connection with the tax </ins>&#10;14.26   <ins>increment financing plan:</ins>&#10;14.27   <ins>(i) the developer has acquired property by May 1, 2006, in reliance on the </ins>&#10;14.28   <ins>condemning authority's contractual obligation to condemn property; or</ins>&#10;14.29   <ins>(ii) by May 1, 2006, the condemning authority has issued, sold, or entered into a </ins>&#10;14.30   <ins>binding agreement to issue or sell bonds or other obligations to finance the costs of the </ins>&#10;14.31   <ins>tax increment financing plan and has commenced the action within two years after the </ins>&#10;14.32   <ins>bonds were issued;</ins>&#10;14.33   <ins>(2) the tax increment financing district was certified before February 1, 2006; a tax </ins>&#10;14.34   <ins>increment financing plan, adopted before February 1, 2006, identified the property as </ins>&#10;15.1    <ins>intended to be acquired; and the condemning authority has commenced the action within </ins>&#10;15.2    <ins>five years after certification of the district;</ins>&#10;15.3    <ins>(3) creation of the tax increment financing district was authorized under a special </ins>&#10;15.4    <ins>law that received local approval or became effective without local approval before </ins>&#10;15.5    <ins>February 1, 2006, and the condemning authority commences the action within the time </ins>&#10;15.6    <ins>period permitted under the applicable general or special law for making expenditures to </ins>&#10;15.7    <ins>comply with Minnesota Statutes, section 469.1763, subdivision 3, but not to exceed a </ins>&#10;15.8    <ins>ten-year period; or</ins>&#10;15.9    <ins>(4) the condemning authority commences the action before February 1, 2011, to </ins>&#10;15.10   <ins>complete land assembly for a project, financed in whole or in part with abatement under </ins>&#10;15.11   <ins>Minnesota Statutes, sections 469.1813 to 469.1815, and the abatement resolution was </ins>&#10;15.12   <ins>adopted by one of the participating political subdivisions before February 1, 2006.</ins>&#10;15.13   <ins>(c) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) and (b), actions commenced after February 1, </ins>&#10;15.14   <ins>2008, that satisfy the requirements of paragraph (b), clauses (1) to (4), are not subject to </ins>&#10;15.15   <ins>the definition of "public use" and "public purpose" under Minnesota Statutes, section </ins>&#10;15.16   <ins>117.025, as amended by this act. The rest of the act applies to the actions.</ins>&#10;15.17   <ins>(d) The definitions under Minnesota Statutes, section 469.174, apply for purposes </ins>&#10;15.18   <ins>of paragraphs (b) and (c).</ins>&#10;15.19   <ins>(e) The provisions of this act do not apply to:</ins>&#10;15.20   <ins>(1) property acquired for a highway project that, by the effective date, has been </ins>&#10;15.21   <ins>selected to receive federal funding by the area transportation partnership or metropolitan </ins>&#10;15.22   <ins>planning organization as part of the state transportation improvement program, if the </ins>&#10;15.23   <ins>action is commenced on or before January 15, 2007; or</ins>&#10;15.24   <ins>(2) property acquired for the purpose of providing physical or financial assistance for </ins>&#10;15.25   <ins>emergency shelter and services for homeless persons in a first class city by a governmental </ins>&#10;15.26   <ins>unit or nonprofit organization, if the action is commenced on or before two years after </ins>&#10;15.27   <ins>the effective date.</ins>&#10;15.28   <ins>(f) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given:</ins>&#10;15.29   <ins>(1) "action" means a condemnation or eminent domain proceeding or action; and </ins>&#10;15.30   <ins>(2) "commence" means when service of notice of the petition under Minnesota </ins>&#10;15.31   <ins>Statutes, section 117.055, is made.</ins>"&#10;15.32   Delete the title and insert:&#10;15.33                                              "A bill for an act&#10;15.34   relating to eminent domain; making changes to and regulating the exercise &#10;15.35   of eminent domain; providing for public use or purpose and providing other &#10;15.36   definitions; providing for notice, hearing, and other procedural requirements; &#10;15.37   providing for attorney fees and additional forms of compensation;amending &#10;16.1    Minnesota Statutes 2004, sections 117.025; 117.036; 117.055; 117.075, &#10;16.2    subdivision 1; 117.085; 117.51; 117.52, subdivision 1, by adding subdivisions; &#10;16.3    proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 117; repealing &#10;16.4    Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 117.011."&#10;We request the adoption of this report and repassage of the bill.Senate Conferees: (Signed) Thomas M. Bakk, Steve Murphy, Don Betzold, Linda Higgins, Julianne E. OrtmanHouse Conferees: (Signed) Jeff Johnson, Jim Abeler, Gregory M. Davids, Bruce Anderson, Paul Thissen<rs_table>17.1    We request the adoption of this report and repassage of the bill.                 &#10;17.2    Senate Conferees:(Signed)                                                       &#10;17.3                                                                                    &#10;17.4    Thomas M. Bakk                             Steve Murphy                         &#10;17.5                                                                                    &#10;17.6    Don Betzold                                Linda Higgins                        &#10;17.7                                                                                    &#10;17.8    Julianne E. Ortman                                                              &#10;17.9    House Conferees:(Signed)                                                        &#10;17.10                                                                                   &#10;17.11   Jeff Johnson                               Ron Abrams                           &#10;17.12                                                                                   &#10;17.13   Gregory M. Davids                          Bruce Anderson                       &#10;17.14                                                                                   &#10;17.15   Paul Thissen                                                                    &#10;</rs_table>