Senate scales back secondary water‑metering mandate, keeps reporting and loan options

Senators passed fifth substitute Senate Bill 52 on secondary water requirements after the sponsor described the measure as a scaled‑back approach that removes a statewide metering mandate while preserving tools to study and incentivize voluntary adoption.

Sponsor Senator Andrade said the substitute removed the mandate for water metering but retained a reporting requirement to the Division of Water Resources and a one‑time planning report to estimate costs and financing options for districts that might adopt secondary water metering. "We removed the mandate for water metering…we left in the provision that said, going forward after April first of 2020, that any new construction in the state would be required to be metered for those areas that have an active servicing water service," Andrade said, describing the bill as "very scaled back" from the original proposal.

The bill preserves an existing low‑interest loan program administered by the Division of Water Resources for entities that choose to meter secondary systems, Andrade said, and directs the Water Users Task Force to study audit findings and implementation options. He added the one‑time report is intended to clarify how many connections exist, meter types, financing needs and timing.

Senators took no extended floor debate on the policy specifics after the sponsor’s presentation. The body approved the bill on a roll‑call vote and reported that fifth substitute SB52 "having received 25 yay votes, 0 nay votes, 4 being absent, passes this body and will be sent to the House for their consideration." The Senate later confirmed final passage under suspension of the rules with the same tally.

The measure moves to the House for consideration. The sponsor emphasized the bill is intended to gather data and offer voluntary financing rather than impose immediate statewide costs on local districts.