Bill > HB1500

This bill establishes the Humphreys County Water Authority, a public governmental body responsible for planning, acquiring, operating, and financing water and wastewater systems within Humphreys County and surrounding regions, with its powers vested in a five-member board of commissioners appointed by county and city officials. The Authority is empowered to manage water and wastewater systems, enter into agreements with local governments, issue bonds and notes to finance operations and improvements, and set rates and fees for services, with the goal of ensuring the systems are self-supporting. Importantly, the Authority's operations, properties, and income are exempt from state and local taxes, and it is not subject to the jurisdiction of the Tennessee Public Utility Commission, though it is regulated by the Tennessee Board of Utility Regulation and the Department of Environment and Conservation. The bill also outlines the powers of Humphreys County and its cities, Waverly, McEwen, and New Johnsonville, to transfer their existing water and wastewater systems to the Authority and to issue joint obligations, with the act's effectiveness contingent upon approval by a two-thirds vote of the Humphreys County legislative body.