Florida Senate - 2026 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS for SB 1724
Ì626458JÎ626458
LEGISLATIVE ACTION
Senate . House
Comm: RCS .
02/10/2026 .
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The Committee on Community Affairs (McClain) recommended the
following:
1 Senate Amendment
2
3 Delete lines 46 - 143
4 and insert:
5 electric, water, natural gas, or sewer utility service at retail
6 pursuant to subsection (1) must be in writing. Such agreement
7 may not become effective before an appointed representative of
8 the municipality that provides the service or intends to provide
9 service, in conjunction with the governing body of each
10 municipality and unincorporated area served or to be served, has
11 participated in a public meeting. Such meeting is not required
12 to be a separate public meeting, but it must be held within each
13 municipality and unincorporated area served or to be served for
14 purposes of providing information and soliciting public input
15 on:
16 1. The nature of the services to be provided or changes to
17 the services being provided;
18 2. The rates, fees, and charges to be imposed for the
19 services provided or intended to be provided, including any
20 differential with the rates, fees, and charges imposed for the
21 same services on customers located within the boundaries of the
22 serving municipality, the basis for the differential, and the
23 length of time that the differential is expected to exist;
24 3. The extent to which revenues generated from the
25 provision of the services will be used to fund or finance
26 nonutility government functions or services; and
27 4. Any other matter deemed relevant by the parties to the
28 agreement.
29 (b) Rates, fees, and charges imposed for water or sewer
30 utility services provided pursuant to subsection (1) must comply
31 with s. 180.191.
32 (c) A representative of each municipality that provides
33 electric, water, natural gas, or sewer utility services pursuant
34 to subsection (1), in conjunction with the governing body of
35 each municipality and unincorporated area in which it provides
36 services, shall annually conduct a public customer meeting. Such
37 meeting is not required to be a separate public meeting, but
38 must be held within each municipality and unincorporated area
39 for purposes of soliciting public input on utility-related
40 matters, including fees, rates, charges, and services.
41 (d) As used in this subsection, the term:
42 1. “Appointed representative” means an executive-level
43 leadership employee of a municipality, or of such municipality’s
44 related and separate utility authority, board, or commission,
45 specifically appointed by the governing body to serve as its
46 representative for the purposes of this subsection.
47 2. “Governing body” means a:
48 a. Governing body of a municipality in which services are
49 provided or proposed to be extended; or
50 b. Board of county commissioners of a county in which
51 services are provided or proposed to be extended, if services
52 are provided or proposed to be extended in an unincorporated
53 area within the county.
54 Section 2. Subsection (1) of section 180.191, Florida
55 Statutes, is amended to read:
56 180.191 Limitation on rates charged consumer outside city
57 limits.—
58 (1) Any municipality within this the state operating a
59 water or sewer utility outside of the boundaries of such
60 municipality shall charge consumers outside the boundaries
61 rates, fees, and charges determined in one of the following
62 manners:
63 (a) It may charge the same rates, fees, and charges as
64 consumers inside the municipal boundaries. However, in addition
65 thereto, the municipality may add a surcharge of not more than
66 25 percent of such rates, fees, and charges to consumers outside
67 the boundaries. Fixing of such rates, fees, and charges in this
68 manner may shall not require a public hearing except as may be
69 provided for service to consumers inside the municipality.
70 (b) It may charge rates, fees, and charges that are just
71 and equitable and which are based on the same factors used in
72 fixing the rates, fees, and charges for consumers inside the
73 municipal boundaries. In addition thereto, the municipality may
74 add a surcharge not to exceed 25 percent of such rates, fees,
75 and charges for said services to consumers outside the
76 boundaries. However, the total of all Such rates, fees, and
77 charges for the services to consumers outside the boundaries may
78 shall not be more than 25 50 percent in excess of the rates,
79 fees, and charges total amount the municipality charges
80 consumers served within the municipality for corresponding
81 service. No Such rates, fees, and charges may not shall be fixed
82 until after a public hearing at which all of the users of the
83 water or sewer systems; owners, tenants, or occupants of
84 property served or to be served thereby; and all others
85 interested shall have an opportunity to be heard concerning the
86 proposed rates, fees, and charges. Any change or revision of
87 such rates, fees, or charges may be made in the same manner as
88 such rates, fees, or charges were originally established, but if
89 such change or revision is to be made substantially pro rata as
90 to all classes of service, both inside and outside the
91 municipality, no hearing or notice shall be required.
92 (c) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) and (b), a municipality
93 may continue to impose a surcharge on consumers outside the
94 municipal boundaries only to the extent necessary to comply with
95 the terms of bond covenants in effect as of July 1, 2024. Such
96 surcharges must be phased out upon retirement, expiration, or
97 refinancing of the applicable debt obligation.
98 Section 3. Effective July 1, 2027, section 180.192, Florida
99 Statutes, is created to read:
100 180.192 Reporting requirements related to municipal utility
101 service.—
102 (1) By January 1, 2028, and annually thereafter, each
103 municipality that provides electric, water, natural gas, or
104 sewer utility