The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5394, aims to amend the Uniform Relocation Assistance Act by making several key changes to the existing statutes. Notably, it introduces provisions that require state agencies to provide payments to displaced persons who have occupied their dwelling for at least ninety days prior to acquisition negotiations. The bill specifies that these payments can be used for leasing or renting a new dwelling for up to four years, with a maximum limit of four thousand dollars. Additionally, it establishes that landlords are liable for payments made to displaced tenants due to code enforcement actions, allowing municipalities to place liens on landlords' properties to secure repayment.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the conditions under which the Commissioner of Housing can provide financial assistance to state agencies for relocation programs. It stipulates that towns, cities, or boroughs must agree to place liens on properties owned by landlords of displaced tenants and assign any claims against those landlords to the state. The Attorney General is tasked with collecting these claims, with a portion of the funds collected being allocated to the General Fund and the remainder returned to the municipality that initiated the code enforcement actions. The changes are set to take effect on October 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 8-270, 8-280