Citizen Portal
Sign In

Committee adopts amendment to raise and index relocation cap for small businesses after eminent domain

2315646 · February 14, 2025
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

The Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee adopted an amendment to increase the cap on reestablishment reimbursements to $200,000 and to index it for inflation, then reported substitute House Bill 1733 out of committee by a 13–0 roll call.

The Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee on Feb. 14 adopted an amendment and reported substitute House Bill 1733 out of committee with a due-pass recommendation.

Representative Jacobson moved Amendment H1378 (notation H1378.1 in committee), which would provide that an increased cap of $200,000 for reimbursing small businesses, farms, or nonprofits for reestablishment expenses must be adjusted annually for inflation. Speaking in favor of the amendment, Representative Jacobson framed eminent domain as a serious taking of property and argued that the state should ensure just compensation, including relocation costs. “Eminent domain is a … taking of someone’s property,” Jacobson said. “If someone is not expecting to move their business and the government has a public purpose in taking that business then we should pay the freight on that.”

Representative Tai and other members supported the inflation-adjustment provision as a way to keep the reimbursement amount current. The committee voice-voted to adopt Amendment H1378.1; later, the committee voted to report the substitute bill out by roll call. Staff announced 13 ayes, 0 nays.

By committee action the substitute House Bill 1733, including the adopted amendment, will move to the chamber with a recommendation to pass. Committee discussion repeatedly referenced the constitutional requirement to provide just compensation for takings; Representative Jacobson specifically cited Article I, Section 16 of the state constitution and the U.S. Constitution when discussing just compensation.

Votes at a glance: Amendment H1378.1 — adopted by voice vote. Substitute House Bill 1733 — reported out of committee with a due-pass recommendation; committee tally 13–0.