Democrat Rep Harold Dutton Proposes Land Grabbing Amendment

A proposed amendment to the Texas Constitution in the Texas House seeks to define public beaches in a way that excludes landowners.

Dallas Democrat Representative Harold Dutton placed the amendment with a public beaches bill.

The legislation would be beyond the judicial review of courts if it is added to the Texas Constitution.

Under the legislation, public beach boundaries would be clearly defined and held in a public trust.

The legislation is to counter a 2010 Texas Supreme court ruling on the Open Beaches Act.

The Supreme Court ruled that if nature erodes a beach, the landowner has a right to the remaining property even if it is now part of the beach.

In 2012 the Supreme Court reaffirmed its 2010 ruling.

If passed, the legislation would rip away that landowner protection and avoid court oversight.