Relocation Assistance Amendments

6
57-12-4
0
Relocation Assistance Amendments
2026 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Heidi Balderree
House Sponsor: Tiara Auxier
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill modifies the Utah Relocation Assistance Act.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
increases the cap on direct financial assistance for a displaced farm, a nonprofit
organization, and businesses up to $75,000;
requires the Department of Transportation to:
adjust the assistance limit annually for inflation beginning July 1, 2027;
calculate and publish the inflation-adjusted limit each year; and
provide the updated amount to the Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman; and
makes technical and conforming changes.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
57-12-4
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 261
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section
57-12-4
is amended to read:
57-12-4
. Federal funds -- Direct assistance.
(1)
When federal funds are available for payment of direct financial assistance to a person
displaced by acquisition of real property by any agency
that an agency's acquisition of
real property displaces
, the displacing agency may use those federal funds with state or
local funds to the extent
provided by federal law
federal law provides
and may provide
direct financial assistance in the instances and on the conditions
set forth by
federal
law and regulations
establish
.
(2)
(a)
When federal funds are not available or used for payment of direct financial
assistance to a person
displaced by the acquisition of real property by an agency
that
an agency's acquisition of real property displaces
, the displacing agency may provide
direct financial assistance to the person.
(b)
Except as provided in Subsection
(3)
, financial assistance authorized by this
Subsection
(2)
may not exceed the total amount that would have been payable under
Subsection
(1)
if federal funds
had been
were
available or used.
(3)
(a)
(i)
The amount of direct financial assistance
provided
an agency provides
to a
person displaced by
the agency's
acquisition of real property
by any agency
includes actual reasonable expenses necessary to reestablish a displaced farm,
a
displaced
nonprofit organization, or
a displaced
business at a new site, in
accordance with criteria
established by the agency by rule, but not exceeding
$50,000
the agency establishes by rule made in accordance with Title 63G,
Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act.
(ii)
The amount of direct financial assistance provided in accordance with Subsection
(3)(a)(i)
may not exceed $75,000
.
(b)
The
$50,000
limit on direct financial assistance
established in
Subsection
(3)(a)

describes
:
(i)
applies despite any lower limit established by federal statute or regulation or
agency rule; and
(ii)
does not apply if a higher limit is established by federal statute or regulation.
(c)
Beginning on July 1, 2027, and on July 1 of each year thereafter, the Department of
Transportation shall adjust the limit on direct financial assistance described in
Subsection
(3)
by taking the limit on direct financial assistance for the previous year
and adding an amount equal to the greater of:
(i)
an amount calculated by multiplying the limit on direct financial assistance of the
previous year by the actual percentage change during the previous Consumer
Price Index
as determined by the State Tax Commission; and
(ii)
0.
(d)
On or before January 30 of each year, the Department of Transportation shall:
(i)
calculate and publish the inflation-adjusted limit on direct financial assistance; and
(ii)
provide the published inflation-adjusted limit on direct financial assistance to the
Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman.
(4)
(a)
A displaced person eligible for payments under this chapter who is displaced from
the person's place of business or farm may accept payment under this Subsection
(4)

in lieu of any payment under the displacing agency's rules if the person is eligible
under the agency's criteria.
(b)
A payment under this Subsection
(4)
is a fixed payment of at least $1,000 but not
more than $75,000.
(c)
A person whose sole business at the site from which the person is displaced is the
rental of property to others does not qualify for payment under this Subsection
(4)
.
(5)
Assistance under this section may not be provided to a person who is ineligible to
receive relocation assistance under a federal statute or regulation.
Section 2.
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on
May 6, 2026
.
2-26-26 10:43 AM