Bill > SB0248

This bill establishes a Low-Income Water Residential Affordability Fund within the state treasury to help low-income water utility customers manage their water bills. The fund will be primarily financed through a monthly fee of $1.25 per water meter, which will incrementally increase to $3.00 and be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index. The fund can be used for various purposes, including administrative costs, income-based bill discounts, arrearage payments, and water loss mitigation programs like home plumbing audits and minor repairs. Water providers will be required to collect this fee and remit it to the state treasurer, and they can list it as a separate line item on customer bills. The bill mandates annual reporting to the legislature about fund collections and disbursements, and allows customers and philanthropic entities to donate to the fund. Importantly, the bill includes provisions to protect the collected funds from being intercepted for debt collection and ensures that money collected in each regional service center will be disbursed within the same region. The bill's implementation is contingent on the passage of two related Senate bills, and it explicitly states that it does not grant the Michigan Public Service Commission additional regulatory power over public water utilities.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2025-SB-0248