Committee holds smart‑meter opt‑out bill after split testimony on health and operational concerns

Committee members debated a bill that would require utility services to obtain signed, property‑owner consent before installing a “smart meter gateway device” and to provide an opt‑out form. Supporters cited health and electromagnetic‑exposure concerns; opponents and utilities warned the statutory opt‑out and signature requirement would disrupt meter rollouts and impose operational burdens.

Representative Ruby, the sponsor of the do‑not‑pass motion, told the committee she opposed mandating changes that would force utilities to provide analog meter alternatives and said many objections raised during testimony were speculative and unsupported by definitive medical studies. Representative Jim Casper said his wife had experienced Guillain‑Barré syndrome and expressed concern about electronic impulses affecting people with certain conditions: “electronic impulses can influence that type of disease,” he told the committee.

Utilities said they already provide opt‑out arrangements in many jurisdictions and that technical workarounds (for example, disabling the gateway radio while retaining the meter hardware) can address customer concerns in most cases. Vice Chair Ben Asley and other members pointed to local utilities that reported opt‑out options and minimal uptake.

Action and next steps: Representative Ruby moved a do‑not‑pass recommendation; Representative Greenberg seconded. The committee recorded a roll call with mixed yes and no votes and then directed staff to hold the measure over for further consideration rather than sending a final recommendation to the floor during that meeting.