A yes vote for Proposition 11 on the Nov. 3 ballot is a vote to protect the rights of property owners, said Kenneth Dierschke, president of the Texas Farm Bureau.

Passage of Proposition 11—the last constitutional amendment listed on the ballot—will stop the government from taking private property from one person to give to another for his or her personal gain.

"Eminent domain is not something people think about until their land, home or business property is taken," Dierschke said. "That power is being misused and abused in Texas. Proposition 11 does not fix all of the problems, but it is a good first step toward eminent domain reform."

Passage of Proposition 11 will strengthen private property rights by including language in the Texas State Constitution that bans entities from taking someone’s land, home or business for the sole purpose of economic development. It will also limit the number of entities with eminent domain power and force new entities to first gain a two-thirds vote of the Texas Legislature before they are granted eminent domain power.

"Passage of Proposition 11 will send a clear signal to our state government that basic private property rights are very much on the minds of Texas voters," Dierschke said. "A yes vote on Proposition 11 will clear the path for true eminent domain reform that the members and leadership of Texas Farm Bureau have pushed for many years."