Bill > SB1413

This bill modifies the procedure for landowners seeking to obtain an expedited release from a water utility's certificate of public convenience and necessity (CCN), specifically for tracts of land at least 25 acres in size and not currently receiving water or sewer service. The bill applies to landowners in counties with populations meeting specific criteria, including counties with at least 1.2 million residents or adjacent counties. The bill requires petitioners to provide written notice to the certificate holder at least 60 days before submitting a petition to the utility commission, and allows the certificate holder to waive this notice requirement. The bill also restricts the certificate holder from initiating federal loan program applications after notice is provided, and introduces a provision allowing petitioners to pay or defease existing federal loans for the certificate holder. Additionally, the bill changes the utility commission's discretion to require compensation from "may" to "shall" when determining compensation is owed, and mandates that petitioners verify payment of such compensation. The changes will apply only to proceedings commenced on or after the bill's effective date of September 1, 2025, with existing proceedings continuing under previous law.