Bill > SB0249

This bill establishes a low-income water residential affordability program task force within the state department of human services, designed to address water affordability challenges. The task force will consist of diverse representatives from water providers of various population sizes, consumer advocacy groups, community agencies, municipal governments, and environmental groups. The task force's responsibilities include developing best practices for administering an affordability program, creating guidance and educational materials, seeking additional funding sources, exploring program expansion, reviewing water usage limits, and recommending criteria for provider-specific low-income water affordability programs. The department will collaborate with the treasury department to distribute funds to help low-income customers reduce their water, sewerage, and stormwater bills, as well as provide assistance for necessary plumbing repairs. The task force must develop its initial guidance within 9 months, and the department must implement this guidance within 18 months of the bill's enactment. Notably, this bill will only take effect if three related Senate Bills (248, 250, and 252) are also enacted into law, creating an interconnected legislative approach to addressing water affordability issues.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2025-SB-0249