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Committee advances bill to aid troubled water systems, adds limited liability language after stakeholder talks
Summary
The Senate Utilities Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 426, a measure to provide new acquisition mechanisms and other tools to support financially troubled water utilities, after adopting technical amendments and narrowing an immunity provision following stakeholder talks.
The Senate Utilities Committee advanced Senate Bill 426 after adopting technical and substantive amendments intended to help small, financially challenged water and wastewater utilities transition ownership and access capital while addressing liability concerns.
Chairman Cook said the bill continues prior efforts to help “troubled utilities, many of these are small and without asset management plans, without capital.” The bill includes acquisition mechanisms and a provision clarifying that the Department of Natural Resources cannot remove a dam if such action would negatively affect a public water supply.
Witnesses representing utilities and municipal interests urged committee approval. Justin Schneider of Indiana American Water said the measure “will…
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