Condemnation is a structured legal process, and while it may feel one sided at times, landowners have defined rights. The challenge is that those rights are often misunderstood or exercised too late.
Across Texas, new 765 kV transmission line projects are moving through the approval process. These are some of the largest electric infrastructure projects in the state, requiring wide corridors and long term easements that can significantly impact private land.
Across Texas, new 765 kV transmission lines are moving from planning into execution. For landowners, the question is no longer if these projects are happening. It is what happens next and how it will affect your land.
Many of these projects are currently in the routing and approval phase through the Public Utility Commission of Texas. This is one of the most important stages for landowners. Once routes are finalized, the process shifts toward acquisition and potential condemnation. Knowing where projects are and how they progress is critical, but knowing how to respond is what ultimately protects your land. The scale of this expansion is unlike anything Texas landowners have seen in decades.
The Southeast Texas Area Reliability Project (SETEX) is currently one of the newest and largest high voltage transmission line projects approved to be built in Texas. Entergy Texas has received approval to construct a single circuit 500 kV transmission line stretching approximately 145 miles across Southeast Texas, passing through Jasper, Montgomery, Newton, Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity, Tyler, and Walker counties.
When land ownership intersects with business operations, conservation objectives, and multiple heirs, the planning process becomes more complex. A simple will leaving every asset in undivided equal shares may appear fair on paper, but it often fails to account for the realities of managing land that carries operational, financial, and emotional significance.
Floodplain issues can quietly derail an otherwise strong commercial land opportunity. What looks like a prime development tract on paper can quickly become restricted, delayed, or significantly more expensive once floodplain regulations come into play.
For Texas landowners, understanding nuisance law is critical. Not every annoyance is actionable. But some interferences with property rights rise to a level the law recognizes and addresses. Knowing the difference can protect both your land and your leverage.
Initially, Lane intended to use the property for hunting, fishing, and other recreation. She began attending seminars and workshops to learn how to properly manage the ranch for wildlife, and the more she learned, the more her interest in land conservation deepened.
Entity formation often feels like the finish line. In reality, it is the starting point. Ongoing maintenance is what preserves the protections and benefits that motivated the formation in the first place. When that maintenance is overlooked, the consequences may not surface immediately, but they can be costly when they do.
Buying a land-based business is very different from purchasing a purely service or digital company. In addition to traditional mergers and acquisitions considerations, land-based businesses may often involve real property, water rights, mineral interests, equipment, livestock, regulatory permits, and long-standing banking relationships.
Just compensation is not only about the land acquired today. It is about how a project reshapes a property over time. Remainder damages exist to recognize that reality. Understanding these concepts allows landowners to approach condemnation matters with clarity and perspective. It shifts the focus from a single transaction to the long-term impact on land use, value, and future opportunities.
Braun & Gresham, PLLC provides skilled legal counsel and practical advice for owners of property in Texas. We use traditional resources in innovative ways to help our clients protect and create new value in their land.
We delve into all things related to land in Texas, providing invaluable insights for landowners. Whether you’re a seasoned landowner or new to the field, “Your Texas Land” is your go-to resource for understanding the unique challenges and opportunities of owning land in the Lone Star State.
