Committee advances bill to compensate businesses for lost customer goodwill in eminent domain takings

A legislative committee on [date not specified in transcript] advanced Senate Bill 225 (printer's no. 377), a proposal to amend Title 26 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to require compensation for business owners whose properties are taken through eminent domain for losses to customer-based reputation or competitive advantage.

Derek, who presented the bill to the committee, summarized the measure: "This bill amends Title 26, eminent domain of the Pennsylvania consolidated statutes to ensure that owners of a business whose property was taken through eminent domain are compensated for losses to their customer based reputation or competitive advantage." The bill was introduced for committee consideration by the chair and discussed briefly by members.

Chairman Lawrence said he supported moving the legislation forward but raised a specific concern about the statutory language. "I do have some concerns about ... the definition of goodwill," he said, adding that he would support the bill out of committee while urging attention to that definition.

With no further questions raised, the committee took a voice vote. Members indicated affirmative responses and the chair announced the bill passed unanimously out of committee. The committee did not record an individual roll-call tally in the transcript; the chair described the outcome as unanimous.

The measure will proceed from committee; the transcript does not specify the next committee or floor steps or a sponsor other than its Senate bill number and printer's number.