The Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act (1970) ("URA") was passed by the U.S. federal government in 1970.
It was intended to ensure fair compensation and assistance for those whose property was compulsorily acquired for public use under eminent domain law.
[1] Therefore, until 1962, citizens displaced by a federal project were guaranteed just compensation for the property taken by the government, but had no legal right or benefit for the expenses they paid to relocate.
Moreover, enactment of the URA without corresponding regulations "resulted in significant differences in administration of relocation benefits by various state and federal programs.
"[1]: .03 For instance, utilities and billboard/signage businesses were often required to sue in order to qualify for benefits under the URA due to the Act's ambiguous provisions.
[1] In 2005, an expansive update of URA regulations was completed by the Federal Highway Administration ("FHWA") (a division of the Department of Transportation).
[1] In 2012, President Barack Obama signed the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act ("MAP-21") which made further changes to the URA, specifically increasing the amount of benefits given to displacees.
[14] Connecticut's parallel version of the URA is one that attempts to compensate goodwill to non-chain businesses by allowing one to claim up to $10,000.00 of one's annual net income due to loss of a "substantial part of their patronage.