Senate committee hears bill to penalize unused property acquired by eminent domain

Senator Alma Francis Heiliger, sponsor of Bill 36-0070, presented the measure to the Committee on Disaster Recovery Infrastructure and Planning at a June 16, 2025, hearing at Earl B. Otley Legislative Hall in St. Thomas.

"Bill number 36 0 0 7 0, an act amending Title 28 Virgin Islands Code Chapter 19 by adding section 4 23 relating to failure to use property acquired through the exercise of the power of eminent domain," Heiliger said, explaining the measure grew out of research and constituent concerns about land use on the territory’s smaller islands. "The idea behind this piece of legislation came as I have been doing a lot of work and research, even reaching out to members in the community ... when it comes to the utilization of land here in the territory. As you know, we are small islands limited with inventory, whether it's on the Island Of Saint John, whether it's on the Island Of Saint Croix, Saint Thomas."

Senator Marice James, chair of the committee, opened the meeting and asked witnesses to identify themselves before giving testimony: "...please put your name and title or position on the record," she said. The clerk read the agenda into the record and noted the hearing would consider two blocks of business: the proposed amendment to Chapter 19 of Title 28 concerning unused eminent domain property (Block 1) and a comprehensive update from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor on the street-addressing initiative (Block 2).

Government officials present to provide or prepare to provide testimony included Lisa Maria Alejandro, commissioner of the Department of Property and Procurement; Josette Walker, assistant commissioner, Department of Planning and Natural Resources; Magdalene Maranci, chief legal counsel, Department of Property and Procurement; and Sean L. Krueger, director and deputy state historic preservation officer, Department of Planning and Natural Resources. The committee chair also acknowledged receipt of a letter from attorney Tom Bolt for members to review.

No formal motion or vote was recorded during the portion of the hearing in the transcript. The committee established a quorum (five present, two absent) and announced it would first hear from the bill sponsor and then from invited testifiers, including the commissioner of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources and officials from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor. The transcript indicates committee members expected agency staff to answer questions during testimony but does not record any staff responses, amendments, or committee directives in the provided excerpt.

The hearing timetable lists invited Block 2 testifiers for the street-addressing initiative as Nadia Harrigan, acting chief of staff to the lieutenant governor; Chris George, administrator, GIS Division, Office of the Lieutenant Governor; and Frondell Gerard, executive director, cruise and heritage and nature tourism. The committee did not take a vote on Bill 36-0070 during the portion of the session in the transcript; further deliberation and any potential vote will follow completion of the invited testimony and questions.

The bill and the testimony the committee will receive are likely to focus on how unused parcels acquired through eminent domain are identified and what penalties or remedial steps the territory could apply; the transcript shows the sponsor framed the issue as a response to limited land inventory on St. John and St. Croix as well as St. Thomas. The record provided does not specify proposed penalties, enforcement mechanisms, or implementation timelines.