HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

                  HB 1785

Title:  An act relating to statutory limits on appraiser fees in eminent domain proceedings.

Brief Description:  Increasing statutory limits on appraiser fees in eminent domain proceedings.

Sponsors:  Representatives Haigh, Ballasiotes, Lambert, D. Schmidt, Scott, Ogden and Romero.

                    Brief Summary of Bill

CIncreases the amount a land owner can receive for evaluation expenditures when his or her land is being taken in eminent domain proceedings.

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 these expenditures may not exceed $200.

Summary of Bill:

Reimbursement for the owner=s evaluation expenditures may not exceed $750.

Fiscal Note:  Requested February 11, 1999.

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

                 Office of Program Research