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HB 2181

Relating to county or city sewer projects for privately owned sewers that are newly installed

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Rick Hillenbrand and 3 co-sponsors

House Bill 2181 protects private landowners from fees and connection mandates to public sewer systems, ensuring they aren't charged for municipal sewer improvements.

To House Energy and Public Works
#counties #publicservicecommission
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Bill Summary · HB 2181

Summary of House Bill 2181

Bill Number: HB 2181
Title: Relating to county or city sewer projects for privately owned sewers that are newly installed
Status: To House Energy and Public Works
Introduced: February 12, 2025
Classification: Bill
Subject: Counties, Public Service Commission

Purpose and Intent

House Bill 2181 aims to protect private landowners with existing private sanitary sewer systems from being charged fees or required to connect to county or municipal sanitary sewer systems. The bill seeks to clarify the financial responsibilities of private landowners regarding sewer systems and to prevent counties and municipalities from imposing costs related to public sewer improvements on these landowners.

Key Provisions

The bill proposes amendments to the following sections of the West Virginia Code:

  • Section 7-20-3 (County Commissions and Officers)
  • Section 8-18-1 (Municipal Corporations)

Main Provisions Include:

  1. Fee Prohibition:

    • Counties and municipalities are prohibited from charging private landowners with private sanitary sewer systems fees based on the public sanitary sewer system.
    • Landowners cannot be required to connect to a county or municipal sanitary sewer system.

  2. Cost Responsibility:

    • Private landowners are not responsible for costs associated with improvements or construction of county or municipal sanitary sewer systems if their private systems were installed prior to the public systems.

  3. Definitions:

    • The bill includes definitions for terms such as "capital improvements," "county services," and "user," clarifying the scope of the legislation and the entities involved.

Who Would Be Affected?

  • Private Landowners: Those who have installed private sanitary sewer systems before the establishment of public sewer systems will benefit from the protections offered by this bill.
  • Counties and Municipalities: Local governments will need to adjust their policies and practices regarding sewer system fees and connections.

Procedural Aspects

  • Introduced: February 12, 2025
  • Referred to Committee: The bill was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Public Works on the same day it was introduced.
  • Markup Discussion: A markup discussion took place on February 19, 2025.
  • Subsequent Actions: The bill has undergone various procedural steps, including referral to the House Environment, Infrastructure, and Technology Committee before being sent to the Energy and Public Works Committee.

Conclusion

House Bill 2181 is designed to safeguard private landowners from financial burdens associated with public sewer systems, ensuring that they are not unfairly charged for improvements or required to connect to municipal services. This legislation reflects a commitment to protecting the rights of private property owners while clarifying the responsibilities of local governments regarding sewer infrastructure.

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

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