HB295 allows real property owners to file claims for compensation against local governments for loss of property value or expenses tied to a local government's failure to enforce certain laws, ordinances, or resolutions, or for maintaining a public nuisance. The bill is aimed at holding local governments accountable for nonenforcement involving issues such as public camping, homelessness, and sanctuary-style policies.
The Georgia State House of Representatives passed HB295 on April 2, 2026 by a vote of 93 to 76. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because this bill strengthens private-property rights and helps hold local governments accountable when their failure to enforce the law harms property owners. By allowing owners to seek compensation for losses caused by nonenforcement or government-enabled nuisances, HB295 reinforces the principle that government exists to protect life, liberty, and property—not ignore lawlessness at the expense of citizens. This upholds the Fifth and 14th Amendments, which prohibit government from depriving individuals of life, liberty, or property without due process of law and require just compensation for takings.
