Summary
Before laying out a new state highway or altering an existing state highway, the Department of Transportation convenes public hearings to enable public input in governmental decision-making, and provide a forum for the exchange of ideas regarding the proposal. The Department, however, is currently under no obligation to notify impacted property owners about these hearings directly. This bill would require the Department to include direct mail notification of public hearings to property owners whose land may be subject to eminent domain and acquired as part of a state transportation project.