Bill > HF4348

This bill designates thermal energy networks, which are systems that distribute heating and cooling from a central source to multiple buildings, as public improvements and waterworks, allowing local governments to construct, reconstruct, extend, and maintain them. Specifically, it amends existing laws to include thermal energy networks in the definition of "municipality" for certain county improvements, clarifies that "improvement" for counties can now encompass these networks, and adds them to the list of authorized improvements a municipality can undertake, alongside traditional infrastructure like streets, sewers, and water systems. Furthermore, it expands the definition of "waterworks" to explicitly include thermal energy networks, enabling them to be managed and financed as part of a municipality's water infrastructure.