The proposed bill aims to establish residential water affordability criteria across all state departments and agencies in Michigan, ensuring that individuals have access to safe, clean, and affordable water for essential uses. It mandates the creation of the Office of Residential Water Affordability within the Department of Health and Human Services, which will be responsible for tracking data on water providers and their affordability programs. The office will also maintain a public website to provide transparency regarding these programs and their statuses.

Additionally, the bill outlines that while state departments must implement these affordability criteria, it does not impose any new obligations on the state to provide water or develop infrastructure beyond existing commitments. The legislation emphasizes that the implementation of these criteria should not infringe upon the rights or responsibilities of public water systems. The act will only take effect if certain related bills from the 103rd Legislature are also enacted into law.