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Kohring Files Regulatory Takings Legislation
HB 484 Would Require Compensation to Property Owners

(JUNEAU) - Rep. Vic Kohring (R-Wasilla/Peters Creek) today introduced House Bill 484, which would require state and municipal governments to compensate private property owners for financial losses they incur from government restriction of the use of their property.

"From the state down to the municipal level, government need to be held accountable for how their actions harm property owners," Kohring said. "Under this bill, government will no longer be allowed to evade responsibility for reducing the value of someone's property through restrictions such as zoning or environmental protection. People should be permitted to develop their land as they choose, and if government says no, then government should pay for any loss in value."

Kohring said the issue is a growing concern, especially in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough where new zoning measures are being seriously considered. He introduced HB 484 in response to a situation in which a large parcel of private land in the Borough remains undeveloped because the state classified it as "critical habitat" for fish and birds.

"The problem is, the owner of this property is now bearing the expense of the state's action and has incurred a major financial loss," Kohring said. "It is unfair for government to place such a heavy burden on an individual property owner without compensating him for the lost use of his land, and this bill would correct this injustice."

Kohring said that he was encouraged to introduce a bill to address government "takings" of private property by Jim Turner, a former member of the Mat-Su Borough Assembly.

"I thank Mr. Turner for his approach and look forward to working on this issue with him and with the many owners of private property who are at risk of seeing the value of their investments taken private from them with out compensation by government run amok," he said.

HB 484 was referred to the House Resources Committee.

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