Senate hears bill to raise reestablishment payment cap for businesses displaced by public projects

Substitute House Bill 1733 would raise the statutory cap on reestablishment payments for displaced small businesses, farms and nonprofit organizations from $50,000 to $200,000 and require the Washington State Department of Transportation to adjust that cap annually for inflation.

Danny Masterson, committee staff, told the Senate Transportation Committee the state relocation assistance program reimburses displaced persons or entities for moving and related expenses when real property is acquired for a public purpose and that WSDOT is the lead agency that administers the program. "This bill would increase that statutory cap on reestablishment payments from $50,000 to $200,000. It also requires that WSDOT adjust the cap for inflation annually," Masterson said.

The measure drew testimony from several small-business owners and nonprofit leaders who said planned Sound Transit work in West Seattle will displace operations…