HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

                  HB 1506

Title:  An act relating to payments to defray costs of evaluating the offer of a condemnor.

Brief Description:  Adjusting condemnation offer evaluation cost limits.

Sponsors:  Representatives DeBolt, K. Schmidt, Murray, Fisher and Mielke.

                    Brief Summary of Bill

CIncreases the amount a land owner can receive for evaluation expenditures when his or her land is being taken by the state.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Staff:  Jim Morishima (786-7191).

Background:

Under the power of eminent domain, state and local governments may acquire title to land without the owner=s consent.  The land must be taken for some legitimate public purpose, and the owner of the land must receive just compensation for his or her loss.  In most cases, this compensation equals the fair market value of the land.

An owner of land will sometimes make expenditures when evaluating the offer made by the entity taking the land (the condemnor).  If that is the case, the condemnor must reimburse the owner for these evaluation expenditures.  However, reimbursement for the expenditures may not exceed $200. 

Summary of Bill:

When the state is the condemnor, reimbursement for the owner=s evaluation expenditures may not exceed $750.  When an entity other than the state is the condemnor, reimbursement for the owner=s evaluation expenditures may not exceed $200.

Fiscal Note:  Requested February 5, 1999.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

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