Recruitment and Retention of Speech-language Pathologists

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Shev Jones

Senate Bill 574 mandates municipalities to provide water and sewage services to county properties, ensuring counties access essential utilities within their boundaries.

Introduced

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Purpose and Intent

Senate Bill 574, now known as Act 742, mandates that municipalities operating waterworks and sewage systems provide services to county-owned properties located within their boundaries. This legislation aims to ensure that counties have access to essential water and sewage services, particularly in instances where such properties require these utilities.

Key Provisions

The bill introduces amendments to the Arkansas Code, specifically:

Waterworks System

Service Requirement: Municipalities that own or operate a waterworks system must provide water services to county properties upon request from the county judge.

Payment Responsibility: The county is responsible for:

Costs associated with connecting to the municipality's waterworks system.
Paying service fees at the same rates charged to other customers of the waterworks system.

Sewage System

Service Requirement: Municipalities that operate a sewage collection system or treatment plant are similarly required to provide sewage services to county properties at the request of the county judge.

Payment Responsibility: The county must cover:

Connection costs to the sewage system.
Service fees at the same rates charged to other customers of the sewage system.

Affected Parties

Counties: This bill directly benefits counties by ensuring they can access necessary water and sewage services for properties they own within municipal boundaries.

Municipalities: Local governments that operate waterworks and sewage systems will have a legal obligation to provide these services, which may require adjustments in their operational protocols.

Residents and Businesses: Indirectly, residents and businesses in the municipalities may experience changes in service availability and potentially in service rates, depending on how municipalities manage these new obligations.

Procedural Timeline

Introduced: March 28, 2025

Amendment Adopted: April 3, 2025

Passed by Senate: April 8, 2025

Passed by House: April 15, 2025

Enrolled and Delivered to Governor: April 15, 2025

Notification of Act: April 18, 2025

The bill underwent several readings and amendments before being passed, demonstrating a thorough legislative process.

Conclusion

Senate Bill 574 (Act 742) establishes a clear framework for municipalities to provide essential water and sewage services to county properties, ensuring that counties can meet their utility needs effectively. This legislation reflects a commitment to improving infrastructure and service accessibility for local governments in Arkansas.

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