Bill > HB1211

This bill addresses tap fees imposed by water and sanitation or water districts in Colorado, establishing new requirements for how these districts determine and set their connection fees. The bill requires districts to ensure tap fees are reasonably related to the actual costs of providing water service, including infrastructure construction, acquisition, and water rights planning, but excluding routine operational expenses. When calculating tap fees, districts must now consider multiple factors such as expected long-term water usage, property characteristics (like square footage, number of bedrooms, lot size), water conservation features (like low-water appliances or graywater treatment systems), and fixture counts. The bill also clarifies that districts have a duty to provide water service if they have the capacity to do so, with "capacity" defined broadly to include physical infrastructure, legal water rights, and financial ability to fund improvements without harming existing customers. Additionally, districts can condition reduced tap fees on long-term compliance with these factors and may require supplemental tap fees if a property's water demand increases over time due to changes like expanded irrigation or increased fixture counts. The legislation aims to create a more transparent and equitable approach to establishing water service connection fees while promoting water conservation.