SB 5532 - DIGEST

Finds that the United States Supreme Court ruled in the Kelo case that a city could use its power of eminent domain to transfer property from one private owner to another for the purpose of increasing tax revenues in the jurisdiction.

Finds that while Washington's Constitution specifically forbids such transfers and states that private property may not be taken for private use, Washington courts have allowed private property taken through the eminent domain powers of government to be transferred to uses that are in fact private in nature.

Declares that government's use of eminent domain in Washington should be restricted to uses that protect public health and safety or provide public use facilities, such as streets, roads, highways, street and road lighting systems, traffic signals, transportation corridors, utility corridors, water systems, storm and sanitary sewer systems, sewage treatment facilities, landfills, park and recreational facilities, and schools.