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Panel clarifies franchise agreements survive investor-owned utility purchases; SB717 passes
Summary
The committee approved SB717, an amendment-overwrite bill clarifying that franchise agreements held by a sold gas utility extend to the purchasing investor-owned gas company; sponsor said publicly owned utilities are not affected.
Senator Taylor, sponsor of SB717, explained the bill replaces the original filing and clarifies that when an investor‑owned gas utility purchases another utility, the buyer takes on the existing franchise agreements. “When a private, when an investor owned gas utility purchases another utility, this bill simply clarifies that the franchise agreements from the previous company extend to the new company,” the sponsor said.
Senator Sarah Kyle confirmed that publicly owned utilities such as MLGW would not be affected because they are not investor owned. The committee adopted the sponsor’s amendment by voice vote and then approved the bill by recorded vote; the bill will move to the calendar.
