PRIA Logo™
FloridaHB 14512026HouseWALLET

Utility Services

Sponsored By: Demi Busatta (Republican)

Signed by Governor

AppropriationEconomic Infrastructure SubcommitteeIntergovernmental Affairs SubcommitteeCommerce CommitteeHouse CalendarRules

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Lower caps for outside water customers

Beginning July 1, 2027, Florida municipal water and sewer utilities face tighter limits on charges outside city boundaries. They can charge the same as inside customers, without an ordinary surcharge or a required rate hearing. Alternatively, outside charges must use the same rate-setting factors and stay within 25% above inside charges, down from 50%. That method requires a public hearing, except for changes made in roughly equal proportions across all inside and outside service classes. A separate surcharge can remain only if it existed before March 1, 2026, and is needed for bond agreements in effect on July 1, 2024. It must end by July 1, 2029, or earlier when the related debt is retired, expires, or is refinanced. Actual savings depend on current charges and the utility's rate-setting method.

Municipal utilities must disclose outside charges

Florida municipalities serving utility customers outside city boundaries must file reports by January 1, 2027, and yearly afterward. Reports cover each electric, water, natural gas, or sewer service: outside customer counts and percentages, sales volumes and percentages, and gross revenue. They must show inside-outside rate differences in amounts and percentages. Reports also show the share of outside revenue funding other government work and the share of that government budget it supports. The Florida Public Service Commission must send compiled reports to the Governor and legislative leaders by March 31, 2027, and yearly afterward. Municipalities face statutory penalties for failing to report; the commission's added authority is limited to enforcing these reporting rules.

Outside utility customers gain public meetings

Beginning July 1, 2027, covered Florida municipal utility agreements for service outside city boundaries must be written. Before new agreements or service extensions take effect, appointed utility-city representatives and affected governing bodies must meet publicly in each affected area. Meetings cover electric, water, natural gas, or sewer services and customer input. Officials must explain rates, inside-outside differences, their basis and duration, and utility money used for other government work. Utility representatives must also hold yearly customer meetings with local governing bodies in each municipality and unincorporated area served. These meetings provide a voice for customers but do not themselves set prices.

State control limits local utility authority

Effective upon enactment, Florida reserves control over a defined group of regional utility authorities to the state. This covers authorities created by the Legislature through a charter amendment after January 1, 2023. The rule limits local control but does not specify changes to household utility prices or services.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Demi Busatta

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Commerce Committee

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee

    Affiliation unavailable

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 219 • No: 62

Senate vote • 3/13/2026

Senate Floor Vote

Yes: 30 • No: 6

House vote • 3/12/2026

House Floor Vote

Yes: 79 • No: 24

Senate vote • 3/11/2026

Senate Floor Vote

Yes: 29 • No: 6

House vote • 3/3/2026

House Floor Vote

Yes: 81 • No: 26

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter No. 2026-135

    6/12/2026

  2. Approved by Governor

    6/11/2026

  3. Signed by Officers and presented to Governor

    6/9/2026

  4. Ordered engrossed, then enrolled

    3/13/2026House

  5. In Messages

    3/13/2026House

  6. CS passed; YEAS 30 NAYS 6 -SJ 893

    3/13/2026Senate

  7. Concurred in House amendment(s) to Senate amendment(s) (451889) -SJ 893

    3/13/2026Senate

  8. In returning messages

    3/12/2026Senate

  9. CS passed as amended; YEAS 79, NAYS 24

    3/12/2026House

  10. Concurred in Senate amendment 253600 as amended

    3/12/2026House

  11. Amendment 857587 Failed

    3/12/2026House

  12. Amendment 451889 adopted

    3/12/2026House

  13. Added to Senate Message List

    3/12/2026House

  14. In Messages

    3/11/2026House

  15. CS passed as amended; YEAS 29 NAYS 6 -SJ 784

    3/11/2026Senate

  16. Read 3rd time -SJ 784

    3/11/2026Senate

  17. Amendment(s) adopted (253600) -SJ 784

    3/11/2026Senate

  18. Read 2nd time -SJ 782

    3/11/2026Senate

  19. Substituted for CS/CS/SB 1724 -SJ 782

    3/11/2026Senate

  20. Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading

    3/11/2026Senate

  21. Withdrawn from Rules -SJ 782

    3/11/2026Senate

  22. Received

    3/3/2026Senate

  23. Referred to Rules

    3/3/2026Senate

  24. In Messages

    3/3/2026Senate

  25. CS passed; YEAS 81, NAYS 26

    3/3/2026House

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation