Recent Articles

Important Property Rights Legislation Advances

Greg Rix
April 06, 2011 13:23

Property Rights Bill (HB701 and SB 998) was positively advanced by votes of both the House Judiciary Committee and Senate Judiciary Committee this week. A number of associations and coalitions are supporting the passage of this important update to the Bert J. Harris, Jr. Private Property...

Important Property Rights Legislation Advances

Greg Rix
April 06, 2011 13:23

Property Rights Bill (HB701 and SB 998) was positively advanced by votes of both the House Judiciary Committee and Senate Judiciary Committee this week. A number of associations and coalitions are supporting the passage of this important update to the Bert J. Harris, Jr. Private Property...

Florida Legislature Strong on Property Rights

Greg Rix
November 18, 2010 21:47

 In a brief Special Session, the Florida Legislature overturned Governor’s Christ’s vetos on important private property rights legislation. The legislature took a strong stand by overriding vetoed bills, indicating a possible return to more protections for the right of private...

New Property Laws Take Effect

Greg Rix
August 16, 2010 20:14

Excerpted from the Miami Herald, August 16, 2010 Toluse Olorunnipa There are a couple of new laws property owners should keep in mind as the 2010 property tax season kicks off. If you've added buildings, additions or other improvements to your property, you can be spared from the standard...

Supreme Court Rules Against Ocean-Front Property Owners

Greg Rix
June 21, 2010 18:23

 Last week, in a unanimous decision, the U.S. Supreme Court further empowered government over the people’s rights in its ruling in Stop the Beach Renourishment, Inc. v. Florida Department of Environmental Protection, et al. The Court has essentially given the State of Florida carte...

State Must Pay for Citrus Seizure

Greg Rix
May 27, 2010 19:25

 Florida's Fourth District Court of Appeal in West Palm Beach recently returned a unanimous ruling in favor of a large group of Broward County residents fighting to have their Constitutional property rights respected.  The judge stated, "government has regulatory power for...

Homeowners Find Standing their Ground Paid Off in Eminent Domain Case

Greg Rix
May 06, 2010 20:41

Excerpted from First Coast News, May 6, 2010 Jenifer Lindgren Video Clip here Property is more than a piece of land for those who have worked their entire lives to make a comfortable home. What happens when the government says they need it? Lonnie Portwood and his wife have spent decades ...

U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Florida Beach Renourishment Case

Greg Rix
December 02, 2009 17:07

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear argument from Destin beachfront property owners regarding the City of Destin and Walton County’s beach restoration project. In 2003, Destin and Walton County officials proposed a plan to pump sand onto a 6.9 mile stretch of land in Florida’s...

Florida Legislature Seeks An End To Nation's Last Alien Land Law

Greg Rix
May 05, 2009 19:41

 In the 2009 session the Florida Legislature, via joint resolution of the House and Senate, proposed an amendment to the Florida Constitution which would eliminate the last alien land law remaining on the books in the United States of America. To do so, the Legislature seeks to place a...

Private Corporations in Florida Wield The Government's Power of Eminent Domain

Greg Rix
September 15, 2008 20:07

From the outer reaches of the panhandle, down to the tip of the Florida Keys, and in all places in between, Floridians should expect to see more and more visible signs of an increase in expansion activities by private utility companies in the coming months, particularly in the area of energy...