A bill significantly curtailing local eminent domain powers was approved Thursday by a legislative panel. The Arizona House Committee on Federal Mandates and Property approved the legislation by a 6-3 vote. The proposal, sponsored by House Majority Leader Eddie Farnsworth, allows localities to only take slum or blighted properties. Current law allows local governments to take properties for redevelopment purposes. The bill would also make local governments hold onto those properties for 10 years before selling or leasing them to the private sector. GOP leader Farnsworth says the bill is about protecting property rights from overzealous government powers. Eminent...