Florida HB 225: Education

Bill Text

HB 225 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb225-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to consumer fairness in utility rates; 2
amending s. 180.191, F.S.; providing a short title; 3
defining the terms "facility" and "recipient 4
municipality"; requiring certain municipalities to 5
impose the same utility rates, fees, and charges on 6
consumers within its municipal boundaries and the 7
boundaries of a recipient municipality; prohibiting 8
such municipalities from imposing surcharges on 9
consumers within the boundaries of a recipient 10
municipality unless certain conditions are met; 11
prohibiting certain use of such surcharges; requiring 12
such municipalities to hold certain public hearings; 13
requiring certain municipalities to file specified 14
reports with the Public Service Commission; requiring 15
the commission to review certain consumer disputes and 16
make certain determinations; providing an effective 17
date. 18
19
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 20
21
Section 1. Section 180.191, Florida Statutes, is amended 22
to read: 23
(Substantial rewording of section. See 24
s. 180.191, F.S., for present text.) 25

HB 225 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb225-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

180.191 Consumer fairness in utility rates.— 26
(1) This section may be cited as the "Consumer Fairness in 27
Utility Rates Act of 2025." 28
(2) As used in this section, the term: 29
(a) "Facility" means a water treatment facility, a 30
wastewater treatment facility, a pumping station, a well, or 31
other physical component of a utility system. 32
(b) "Recipient municipality" means a municipality that 33
receives water or sewer service from another municipality's 34
utility system. 35
(3) A municipality operating a water or sewer utility that 36
has a facility located within a recipient municipality must 37
impose the same base rates, fees, and charges on consumers 38
within the recipient municipality as it does on consumers within 39
its municipal boundaries. 40
(4)(a) A municipality operating a water or sewer utility 41
that has a facility located within a recipient municipality may 42
not impose a surcharge on consumers within the boundaries of the 43
recipient municipality unless the surcharge is: 44
1. Directly tied to documented costs of service, 45
maintenance, or infrastructure investment; and 46
2. Clearly disclosed to the consumer in writing at the 47
time of billing. 48
(b) Surcharges may not be used as a general revenue source 49
or profit margin. 50

HB 225 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb225-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

(5) Before establishing or adjusting rates, fees, or 51
surcharges, a municipality operating a water or sewer utility 52
that has a facility located within a recipient municipality must 53
hold a public hearing to allow input from consumers within its 54
municipal boundaries and the boundaries of the recipient 55
municipality. 56
(6) A municipality operating a water or sewer utility must 57
file an annual report with the Public Service Commission 58
detailing the use of surcharge revenues. 59
(7) Consumer disputes over rates, fees, or surcharges must 60
be reviewed by the Public Service Commission for a determination 61
of fairness and compliance with this section. 62
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 63