Bill > HB1906

This bill aims to increase transparency and consumer protection regarding water system rates by establishing new requirements for water system ownership changes and rate setting. Specifically, it mandates that before a change of ownership for a water system, the seller must notify local government entities, water districts, and adjacent water systems, and provide customers with a right of first refusal if the acquiring company is privately owned. For privately owned, for-profit water systems, the Utilities and Transportation Commission (the state agency that regulates these utilities) will now have specific standards to guide its approval of rate changes, requiring water companies to include capital improvement projects in plans approved by the Department of Health, notify consumers about planned projects and their rate impacts, and promote rate smoothing to avoid sudden increases. The bill also encourages the consolidation of failing or financially distressed water systems into larger, well-managed publicly owned systems, with private acquisition being a secondary option only after consolidation efforts are exhausted.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1906&Year=2025&Initiative=false