Sec. 5.8. (a) This section applies only to:

(1) the Indiana department of transportation when the department seeks to acquire a parcel of land or a property right for the construction, reconstruction, improvement, maintenance, or repair of a:

(A) state highway; or

(B) toll road project or toll bridge; and

(2) any other person that may exercise the power of eminent domain when the person seeks to acquire a parcel of land or a property right for the construction, reconstruction, improvement, maintenance, or repair of a feeder road for an Indiana department of transportation project described in subdivision (1) if the construction, reconstruction, improvement, maintenance, or repair of the feeder road begins not later than five (5) years from the conclusion of the project.

(b) If:

(1) the Indiana department of transportation or other person described in subsection (a)(2) submits a written acquisition offer to the owner of a parcel of real estate under section 5 of this chapter; and

(2) the owner rejects the offer;

the department or other person shall file a complaint under this article to acquire the parcel by the exercise of eminent domain not more than three (3) years after the date the department or other person submitted the written acquisition offer to the owner.

(c) If the Indiana department of transportation or other person fails to meet the requirements described in subsection (b) concerning a parcel of real estate, the department or other person may not initiate an action under this article to acquire the parcel through the power of eminent domain for the same or a substantially similar project for at least three (3) years after the date the three (3) year period described in subsection (b) expires.

(d) A court shall expedite the hearing of an action initiated under subsection (b). A party to the action is entitled to an expedited appeal of the court's final determination, under rules to be adopted by the supreme court.

As added by P.L.163-2006, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.11-2014, SEC.1.