AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- RELOCATION OF UTILITY SERVICES (Utility relocation costs related to highway construction to be partially or fully paid for by the state.)

S2105

2026 -- S 2105
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LC003262
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- RELOCATION OF UTILITY SERVICES

Introduced By:
Senator Linda L. Ujifusa

Date Introduced:
January 16, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Finance
(by request)
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 24-8.1-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 24-8.1 entitled "Relocation
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of Utility Services" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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24-8.1-2. Relocation of utility facilities necessitated by highway construction.
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(a)
Notwithstanding any provision of law or of any charter or statute, general or special, to
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the contrary, whenever state-initiated relocation of utility facilities in the state, owned by private
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corporations
or
, private companies,
municipalities, political subdivisions, authorities, or agencies
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of the state,
whether within or without the limits of public ways, shall become necessary in
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connection with a highway project on the federal aid primary or secondary systems or on the
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national system of interstate and defense highways, including extensions thereof, for which the
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state shall be entitled under any law of the United States to reimbursement from federal funds for
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any portion of the cost of the project, then the state may order the relocation of the utility facilities,
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and the private corporation,
or
private company,
municipality, political subdivision, agencies of the
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state, or authority
owning or operating the facilities shall promptly relocate the facilities in
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accordance with the order and the state shall reimburse the owner of the utility or utility facility for
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the cost of relocation subject to the following limitations and in accordance with the following
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formula: for any utility facility that is to be reimbursed federally, in whole or in part, and for any
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utility facility that does not qualify for federal reimbursement, the division shall reimburse the
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owner fifty percent (50%) of the costs of relocating the utility facility; in no case shall a utility be
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reimbursed for any type of betterment; reimbursement is for relocation costs only; the state shall

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pay the cost of the relocation to the utility as part of the cost of the federally aided highway project.
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A utility relocation shall be eligible for reimbursement pursuant to this section only if it is
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completed to the satisfaction of the state within target dates established by the state and in
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accordance with design criteria set forth by the state for the relocation in a manner that facilitates
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the timely completion of the affected project.
Upon compliance and satisfaction of the conditions
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of this subsection, the

The
state shall pay
a

fifty percent (50%) of the
reasonable amount to private
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corporations and private companies for the relocation of utilities commencing with highway
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projects that are authorized for construction after March 1, 1976.
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(b) Notwithstanding any provision of law or of any charter or statute, general or special, to
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the contrary, whenever state initiated relocation of utility facilities in the state, owned by
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municipalities, political subdivisions, authorities, or agencies of the state, whether within or without
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the limits of public ways, shall become necessary in connection with a highway project on the
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federal aid primary or secondary systems or on the national system of interstate and defense
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highways, including extensions thereof, for which the state shall be entitled under any law of the
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United States to reimbursement from federal funds for any portion of the cost of the project, then
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the state may order the relocation of the utility facilities, and the municipality, political subdivision,
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agencies of the state, or authority owning or operating the facilities shall promptly relocate the
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facilities in accordance with the order and the state shall pay the cost of the relocation to the utility
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as part of the cost of the federally aided highway project.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- RELOCATION OF UTILITY SERVICES
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This act would provide that the cost of relocation of utility facilities necessitated by
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highway construction shall be reimbursed by the state at fifty percent (50%) of the reasonable
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amount to private corporations and companies. The cost of relocation shall be fully reimbursed by
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the state for relocation of utility facilities owned by municipalities and political subdivisions.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC003262
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