The bill amends Florida Statutes to enhance regulations surrounding municipal utility services. It mandates that any new or extended agreements for providing electric, natural gas, water, or sewer services to other municipalities or unincorporated areas must be documented in writing and cannot take effect until a public meeting is held to gather input from the community. The bill specifies the topics to be discussed at these meetings, including service details, rates, and the use of generated revenues. Additionally, municipalities are required to conduct annual public customer meetings to solicit feedback on utility-related matters. The bill also limits the percentage of utility revenues that can be used for general government functions, stipulating that any excess must be reinvested into the utility or returned to customers.

Furthermore, the bill introduces reporting requirements for municipalities providing utility services outside their boundaries, necessitating annual reports to the Florida Public Service Commission detailing customer demographics and revenue information. It also revises the provisions regarding rates charged to customers outside municipal boundaries, eliminating the previous allowance for a 25% surcharge and establishing a new cap of 25% above the rates charged to in-boundary customers. Lastly, the bill prohibits local governments and agencies from restricting fuel sources and appliances used for energy production, reinforcing the preemption of such regulations. The effective date for these changes is set for July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
H 1523 Filed: 180.19, 180.191
H 1523 c1: 180.19, 180.191
H 1523 c2: 180.19, 180.191