Cities must now give telecommunications utilities public notice of a voter-approved bond project at least 30 days before asking them to relocate facilities, must set up a reimbursement process, and the existing duty to repay relocation costs no longer carries the phrase "to the fullest extent allowed by law."
Official title: utility relocation notification
- September 12, 2026
What changes
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NowAt least 30 days before asking a telecommunications utility to relocate a facility, the city must give the utility public notice of any voter-approved municipal bond project.
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NowEach city must develop a reimbursement process that telecommunications utilities can use to apply for repayment of their relocation costs.
BeforeA city had to reimburse a telecommunications utility's relocation costs on voter-approved, bond-funded construction projects "to the fullest extent allowed by law."
NowThat qualifying phrase is removed. The law now simply says the city shall reimburse those costs, or have them reimbursed, still subject to the existing limits in the law, such as the 2% cap for facilities without existing land rights.
Who it affects
- Telecommunications utilities, such as phone, cable, video, internet and telegraph providers and agricultural improvement districts, whose facilities must be moved for city construction projects funded by voter-approved bonds
- Cities and towns, including charter cities
What you need to do
Nothing.
What the law doesn't answer
- What the public notice must contain or how it must be delivered
- Any deadline for cities to develop the reimbursement process, or what the process must include
- What happens if a city does not give the 30-day notice
- Whether the 30-day notice rule applies to projects already underway
- What practical effect removing "to the fullest extent allowed by law" is meant to have
This summary describes the law as enacted. Later laws, court rulings or referendum petitions can change the picture. Check the official text for the current wording.