Florida Senate - 2026                                    SB 1188
       
       
        
       By Senator Grall
       
       
       
       
       
       29-00515A-26                                          20261188__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to municipal water and sewer utility
    3         rates; amending s. 180.191, F.S.; requiring a
    4         municipality to charge customers receiving its utility
    5         services in another municipality the same rates, fees,
    6         and charges as it charges consumers within its own
    7         municipal boundaries under certain circumstances;
    8         making technical changes; providing an effective date.
    9          
   10  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   11  
   12         Section 1. Present subsections (2), (3), and (4) of section
   13  180.191, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (3),
   14  (4), and (5), respectively, a new subsection (2) is added to
   15  that section, and subsection (1) of that section is amended, to
   16  read:
   17         180.191 Limitation on rates charged consumer outside city
   18  limits.—
   19         (1) Any municipality within this the state operating a
   20  water or sewer utility outside of the boundaries of such
   21  municipality shall charge consumers outside the municipal
   22  boundaries rates, fees, and charges determined in one of the
   23  following manners:
   24         (a) It may charge the same rates, fees, and charges as
   25  consumers inside the municipal boundaries. However, in addition
   26  thereto, the municipality may add a surcharge of not more than
   27  25 percent of such rates, fees, and charges to consumers outside
   28  the municipal boundaries, except as provided in subsection (2).
   29  Fixing of such rates, fees, and charges in this manner shall not
   30  require a public hearing except as may be provided for service
   31  to consumers inside the municipality.
   32         (b) It may charge rates, fees, and charges that are just
   33  and equitable and that which are based on the same factors used
   34  in fixing the rates, fees, and charges for consumers inside the
   35  municipal boundaries, except as provided in subsection (2). In
   36  addition thereto, except as provided in subsection (2), the
   37  municipality may add a surcharge not to exceed 25 percent of
   38  such rates, fees, and charges for said services to consumers
   39  outside the municipal boundaries. However, the total of all such
   40  rates, fees, and charges for the services to consumers outside
   41  the boundaries may shall not be more than 50 percent in excess
   42  of the total amount the municipality charges consumers served
   43  within the municipality for corresponding service. No Such
   44  rates, fees, and charges may not shall be fixed until after a
   45  public hearing at which all of the users of the water or sewer
   46  systems; owners, tenants, or occupants of property served or to
   47  be served thereby; and all others interested must shall have an
   48  opportunity to be heard concerning the proposed rates, fees, and
   49  charges. Any change or revision of such rates, fees, or charges
   50  may be made in the same manner as such rates, fees, or charges
   51  were originally established, but if such change or revision is
   52  to be made substantially pro rata as to all classes of service,
   53  both inside and outside the municipality, no hearing or notice
   54  is shall be required.
   55         (2) A municipality within this state which operates a water
   56  or sewer utility providing service to customers in another
   57  recipient municipality shall charge consumers in the recipient
   58  municipality the same rates, fees, and charges as it does the
   59  consumers inside its own municipal boundaries.
   60         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.