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HB 5417

AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- WATER SUPPLY

2025 Regular Session Introduced by George Nardone and 2 co-sponsors

The bill would require water suppliers to maintain, operate, and deliver water to lot lines within subdivisions, shifting some costs from developers to utilities.

04/01/2025 Withdrawn at sponsor's request (04/01/2025)
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Bill Summary · HB 5417

Summary — HB 5417 (2025)

Title: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- WATER SUPPLY
Bill number: HB 5417
Sponsor(s): Reps. Nardone, Quattrocchi, Place
Introduced: February–March 2025 (filed 03/14/2025)
Status: Withdrawn at sponsor’s request (04/01/2025)

Purpose

The bill would require water suppliers to assume responsibility for the maintenance, operation, and delivery of potable water service up to the lot line of each individual parcel in a residential subdivision. It seeks to shift certain infrastructure and operating responsibilities (and their costs) from developers, homeowners associations, or other local entities to the water utility.

Key provisions

  • Adds § 39-15-13 to Rhode Island General Laws (chapter 39-15 — “Water Supply”).
  • Requires any “water supplier” (as defined in § 39-15.1-2) to be responsible for:
    • Maintenance, operation, and delivery of water to the lot line of each individual parcel within a residential subdivision.
    • Any and all costs associated with a pumping station that is not located within the residential subdivision but serves it.
    • Costs associated with any pumping station that delivers water to a school when that pumping station is not located on school property.
  • Explicit exclusion: condominium parcels and multi‑family parcels do not count as a “residential subdivision” for purposes of this section.
  • Effective date: upon passage.

Who would be affected

  • Water suppliers/utilities: increased operational and capital responsibility for subdivision water delivery and some off‑site pumping stations.
  • Developers, homeowners, and property owners in single‑family residential subdivisions: potentially reduced responsibility and costs for water infrastructure within subdivisions.
  • Schools: pumping stations serving schools but located off school property would be covered under the supplier’s responsibilities.
  • Regulators (e.g., Public Utilities Commission): may face requests to review rate adjustments or cost recovery mechanisms if utilities incur new costs.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Cost shift: utilities would bear costs previously borne by developers or local entities; utilities may seek rate adjustments to recover those costs, impacting ratepayers.
  • Contractual and planning changes: development agreements and subdivision approval conditions could change to reflect utility responsibilities.
  • Legal/administrative: definitions in § 39-15.1-2 and interactions with existing municipal responsibilities would determine the scope of obligations and enforcement.
  • Fiscal effect: not specified in the bill text; would depend on the number/scale of affected subdivisions and pumping station costs.

Legislative timeline / procedural notes

  • Introduced and referred to House Corporations (02/12/2025 per bill text; filed 03/14/2025).
  • Scheduled for hearing/consideration 03/28/2025.
  • Withdrawn by the sponsor on 04/01/2025; therefore the bill did not advance to enactment. If enacted as written, it would take effect upon passage.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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