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Committee hears Senate Bill 6 to require early notice to property owners before municipal utility extensions
Summary
Lawmakers and utilities debated an amendment to Senate Bill 6 that would require municipal utilities to notify property owners outside their service area before installing water or wastewater lines; utilities warned the rule could slow small or urgent projects, and the committee deferred an amended vote until next Tuesday.
The Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 6 during a committee meeting, where lawmakers considered an amendment narrowing the measure to municipal utilities and excluding municipal utilities of consolidated cities.
Senator Niemeyer, the bill’s author, told the committee the measure would require municipal utilities to provide direct notice and an outreach meeting for property owners whose land would be crossed by water or wastewater line extensions. "What this sets up is an outreach meeting ... you tell this is your rights," he said, adding that the bill does not remove eminent-domain authority but aims to inform landowners before they receive a legalistic condemnation notice.
Representative Slager, the bill sponsor, said the amendment was intended to focus relief on property owners outside a municipality’s service area or corporate limits. "This is…
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