A House committee voted Tuesday to spend more time researching proposed restrictions to the way governments take private property for public use.

The resolution would help control some of the "abuses" of the practice -- called eminent domain -- that have taken place over the last few years, according to the sponsor, Rep. John Dougall, R-Highland.

"Property ownership is one of the most fundamental rights of our nation," Dougall said. He said because it is so fundamental, a constitutional amendment to the state's constitution may be in order.

But Dougall also said he recognized it would take some work and added he was looking forward to an interim study on the issue during the summer.

Because a resolution would change the state's constitution, it would have to be approved by at least two-thirds of both the House and the Senate before going to voters.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page A4.