Eminent domain

Private Property Rights Protection Act of 2013

Passed the House four times since 2005 without a single Senate vote.

  • BillH.R. 1944
  • Congress113th Congress, 2013 to 2015
  • SponsorJim Sensenbrenner (Republican, WI)
  • IntroducedMay 9, 2013
  • Cause of deathPassed one chamber
  • Died inthe Senate

What it would have done

Cut off federal economic development funds for two years to any state or local government that seized private property through eminent domain to give it to another private party for economic development. A response to Kelo v. City of New London.

The path to law

One chamber passed it. The other chamber’s leadership never brought it to the floor, and it expired when the Congress ended.

IntroducedCommitteeFirst chamberSecond chamberPresidentLawdied here

The votes

House, February 26, 2014. Motion to suspend the rules and pass.

353 yea, 65 nay, out of 435 seatsPassed

Other lives of this bill

109th CongressPrivate Property Rights Protection Act of 2005. Passed the House 376 to 38 in 2005; died in the Senate.
112th CongressH.R. 1433. Passed the House by voice vote in 2012; died in the Senate.
115th CongressH.R. 1689. Passed the House by voice vote in July 2018; died in the Senate.

The record

Last verified November 10, 2026.