? Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has vetoed a bill designed to make it easier for local communities to attack blight by taking over abandoned properties.

The Republican governor cited property rights in his veto message Monday to legislators. Brownback said the aim of the bill was laudable but said it “takes a step too far.”

The bill would have changed the definition of abandoned property to include blighted real estate that has been unoccupied for a year. It would have allowed a district court to give a local government or nonprofit group possession.

Current law allows only organizations to seek temporary possession of homes with two years of delinquent property taxes and vacant for 90 days.

Brownback said he heard concerns that the bill would hurt poor and minority neighborhoods disproportionately.