Relocation Assistance Amendments
SB 144 increases the maximum direct financial assistance available to displaced farms, nonprofits, and businesses under Utah's Relocation Assistance Act from $50,000 to $75,000. It requires the Utah Department of Transportation to annually adjust this $75,000 cap for inflation starting July 1, 2027, calculating and publishing the updated amount each year. The bill mandates the Department of Transportation to share this inflation-adjusted figure with the Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman. These changes apply to individuals or entities displaced by state agency property acquisitions, ensuring assistance levels keep pace with rising costs.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Signed into Law
Mar 2026
Introduced Jan 20, 2026
Signed Mar 17, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Introduced
→
Enrolled
·
4 edits
·
Mar 17, 2026
MODERATE
This bill updates the Utah Relocation Assistance Act to increase the maximum direct financial assistance for displaced farms, nonprofits, and businesses from $50,000 to $75,000. It also mandates that the Department of Transportation annually adjust this limit for inflation starting in 2027 and report the updated figures to the Property Rights Ombudsman. The legislation includes minor text corrections to ensure consistency with federal law requirements.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on the Utah Relocation Assistance Act, but the financial thresholds and administrative duties for the Department of Transportation have expanded.
FISCAL
The maximum direct financial assistance cap for displaced farms, nonprofits, and businesses was increased from $50,000 to $75,000.
REQUIREMENT
The Department of Transportation is now required to adjust the assistance limit annually for inflation beginning July 1, 2027.
The Department of Transportation must calculate and publish the inflation-adjusted limit each year and provide it to the Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman.
TECHNICAL
Several text edits were made to clarify that assistance limits apply despite lower federal limits and to correct grammatical phrasing regarding federal fund usage.
Floor votes · Senate Feb 9, 2026 · House Feb 19, 2026
How they voted
25–0
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 29
Feb 9, 2026
D
Democratic6
100% Yea
N
Forward1
100% Yea
R
Republican22
81% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
37
Key actions
9
Committee
6
Mar 17, 2026
Signed into law
Governor Signed
executive
Feb 19, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling
upper
Feb 19, 2026
Upper · Passed
House/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate
upper
Feb 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
House/ passed 3rd reading
lower
Feb 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
House/ committee report favorable [House Transportation Committee]
lower
Feb 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Transportation Committee]
lower
Feb 11, 2026
Committee
House/ to standing committee [House Transportation Committee]
lower
Feb 9, 2026
Introduced
House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
lower
Feb 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
Senate/ passed 3rd reading
lower
Jan 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate/ committee report favorable [Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee]
upper
Jan 23, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee]
upper
Jan 21, 2026
Committee
Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee]
upper
Jan 20, 2026
Introduced
Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
upper
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
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