In the wake of June’s Supreme Court decision on eminent domain,Kelo v. New London, several states are moving to place restrictions on the use of eminent domain. In all at least 27 states are looking at restrictions.

Alabama was first out of the gate. At the urging of Gov. Bob Riley, a special legislative session this week unanimously approved legislation to forbid condemnation of private property for “nongovernmental retail, office, commercial, residential or industrial development or use.” Sponsors note that Alabama never used eminent domain to acquire the property that Honda, Hyundai, Mercedes and Toyota used to build plants. — Scripps Howard News Service

In California, a new amendment to the state constitution would “specifically prohibit the seizure of one person’s property for the private gain of another.”

Florida House Speaker Allan Bense has created a committee to study eminent domain guidelines.

In Tennessee, a proposal is in the works which would give people displaced by eminent domain triple the assessed value of their property.

And in Texas, the state wants to make economic development projects where eminent domain is used ineligible for federal funding, as well as place other restrictions.

Finally, some good news in this horrible saga. Thanks to Hit and Run.

Update 30 July: TheNew York Times is carrying the other side of the story; some cities are ramping up their efforts to seize properties under eminent domain, before new laws go into effect.