SECTION 1. Chapter 79 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 1 the following new section:

SECTION 1A.  The taking of real estate or of any interest therein by right of eminent domain under this chapter or chapter 80A shall be effected only when necessary for the possession, occupation, and enjoyment of land by the public at large or by public agencies and shall not be effected for the purpose of commercial enterprise, private economic development, or any private use of the property.  Property shall not be taken from one owner and transferred to another on the grounds that the public will benefit from a more profitable use.  Whenever an attempt is made to take property for a use alleged to be public, the question whether the contemplated use is truly public shall be a judicial question and determined as such without regard to any legislative assertion that the use is public.  In the event that property taken pursuant to this chapter or chapter 80A is not used for the purpose for which it was taken within 5 years of the taking, the governmental authority that took the property must offer to sell the property to the owner from whom it was acquired, or his or her known or ascertainable heirs or assigns, at the price which was paid for the property or for the fair market value of the property at the time of the sale, whichever is less, and if the offer is not accepted within 180 days from the date it is made, the property may be sold to any other person, but only at public sale after legal notice is given.

SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect upon its passage.