Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Kelo v. New London that property could be seized to make way for developments that would generate more tax revenue, Governor Blunt formed the Missouri Task Force on Eminent Domain to analyze Missouri's laws regarding the use of eminent domain and issue recommendations that better protect the rights of property owners when the use of eminent domain is being considered. 

The final recommendations of the Task Force were included into HB 1944, which was subsequently passed by the Missouri General Assembly on May 5, 2006 and signed into law by Governor Matt Blunt.  The legislation the governor signed contained 16 of the 18 recommendations introduced by his Eminent Domain Task Force.  As a result, Office of the Ombudsman for Property Rights was created to assist citizens by providing free consultations and help them understand the eminent domain process.

Anthony Martin was named Missouri's Eminent Domain Ombudsman on August 20, 2007.