The bill establishes a Utility Relocation Reimbursement Grant Program within the Department of Commerce, funded by a portion of communications services tax remittances. The Department of Revenue is tasked with distributing $50 million annually to the Grants and Donations Trust Fund to reimburse service providers for relocation expenses incurred due to utility work. Additionally, the bill revises the percentage reduction of funds transferred to the Local Government Half-cent Sales Tax Clearing Trust Fund, effective October 1, 2025. It also outlines the responsibilities of utility service providers regarding the relocation of their facilities when they interfere with public roadways or rail corridors, mandating that utilities initiate relocation work within 30 days of receiving notice.

Moreover, the bill specifies that utilities operating on department-owned rail corridors must perform necessary relocation work upon notice, with costs covered proportionally by the department based on federal funding for related projects. It establishes a new section for the Utility Relocation Reimbursement Grant Program, which will reimburse communication service providers for eligible relocation costs at the request of local authorities. The legislation also details the notification process for service providers regarding potential relocations, requiring timely responses and cost-sharing agreements. It appropriates $50 million in nonrecurring funds for the grant program and emphasizes the act's importance to state interests, set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 703 Filed: 337.403, 125.42
H 703 c1: 337.403, 125.42
H 703 e1: 337.403, 125.42, 202.18, 212.181, 218.65
H 703 er: 337.403, 125.42, 202.18, 212.181, 218.65