All Roll Calls
Yes: 160 • No: 58
Sponsored By: Marty Martinez (Democratic)
Became Law
Water and sewer connection fees; first-time homebuyers; affordable housing. Provides that any locality may provide for the full or partial reimbursement to a first-time homebuyer of water and sewer connection fees, capital recovery charges, and availability fees paid in connection with any new residential development conveyed to such homebuyer. The bill also permits any locality that has adopted an affordable dwelling unit ordinance pursuant to general law to provide for a waiver of such fees and charges for any development subject to the requirements of such ordinance.
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7 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.
Localities can repay some or all water and sewer hookup fees for first-time homebuyers. The reimbursement can cover connection fees, capital recovery charges, and availability fees tied to a new home. Your locality must pass an ordinance to offer this. The ordinance may set limits, like the home’s maximum price or your income.
A locality may repay some or all water and sewer connection fees, capital recovery charges, and availability fees that an applicant paid for a new residential development. The locality must adopt an ordinance or policy to offer this. This can reduce upfront costs for builders or sponsors of new housing.
Localities that have an affordable dwelling unit ordinance can waive water and sewer connection, capital recovery, and availability fees. The waiver applies to developments that are covered by that local affordable housing ordinance. This can lower upfront costs for those projects.
If water or sewer charges go unpaid, you owe penalty and interest, and the owner must stop sending sewage into the system until paid. After 30 days, the supplier must notify the owner. If still unpaid 60 days after the due date, service may be shut off, but a health officer can block shutoff for health reasons. The supplier must give at least 10 business days’ written notice before shutoff. Unpaid amounts can become a property lien after 30 days’ written notice; the lien can include delinquent charges, penalties and interest, and attorney or collection costs up to 20% of the delinquent charges, and cannot be for less than $25. A $5 clerk indexing fee per entry is added to the lien. After you pay the total lien and interest, the locality must provide a signed lien release (within 10 business days if you did not appear in person), and the clerk marks it satisfied with no extra release fee.
Localities can bill for water and sewer service. They may charge the person with the service contract, the owner-occupant or an owner where one meter serves many units, or a tenant where allowed by law. They may also charge residents on combined systems for overflow control. Fees must be fair and, as practicable, uniform for similar use. Localities can set fees based on water use, outlets, fixtures, number of people, or other factors, and can require up to six months paid in advance.
A town with 11,000 to 14,000 people can, with county agreement, sell sewer service to industrial and commercial users outside the town. The town can charge for service by contract. It does not have to serve other outside users.
The law keeps any existing contracts with bondholders in effect. If those contracts conflict with this law, the contracts still control.
Marty Martinez
Democratic • House
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
All Roll Calls
Yes: 160 • No: 58
Senate vote • 3/4/2026
Passed Senate
Yes: 26 • No: 13
Senate vote • 3/3/2026
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)
Yes: 40 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/3/2026
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/2/2026
Reported from Local Government
Yes: 10 • No: 3 • Other: 2
House vote • 2/5/2026
Read third time and passed House
Yes: 64 • No: 34
House vote • 1/30/2026
Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s)
Yes: 5 • No: 2
House vote • 1/30/2026
Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with amendment(s)
Yes: 15 • No: 6
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0449)
Approved by Governor-Chapter 449 (effective 7/1/2026)
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026
Signed by Speaker
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1144ER)
Enrolled
Signed by President
Passed Senate (26-Y 13-N 0-A)
Read third time
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Rules suspended
Reported from Local Government (10-Y 3-N 2-A)
Referred to Committee on Local Government
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Read third time and passed House (64-Y 34-N 0-A)
Engrossed by House as amended
committee amendments agreed to
Read second time
Read first time
Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with amendment(s) (15-Y 6-N)
House subcommittee offered
Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (5-Y 2-N)
Assigned HCCT sub: Subcommittee #1
Chaptered
4/8/2026
Enrolled
3/11/2026
Engrossed
2/4/2026
Amendment
1/30/2026
Introduced
1/14/2026
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