SPONSOR: Martin
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Utilities by a vote of 19 to 1.
Currently if a customer or a public sewer district has three months of unpaid charges, the district must notify the customer by certified mail prior to disconnecting service. This bill allows for notification by first-class mail.
This bill is similar to HB 1773 (2026).
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that this bill would save sewer districts time and money. Many districts already send notice by both certified and first class mail because 90% of the certified mailings are returned undelivered. The bill would make the requirements for sewer districts the same as water districts, which only have to send notices by first class mail.
Testifying in person for the bill were Representative Martin; Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District; Robert A. Hembrock, Northeast Public Sewer District; and Don Daniel.
OPPONENTS: Those who oppose the bill say that utilities are social determinants of health. Having utility service disconnected can lead to unfavorable health outcomes. For struggling Missourians, the certified mail notification, even if they do not receive the actual letter, is an important reminder that the sewer service will be terminated.
Testifying in person against the bill was Jeanette Mott-Oxford, Consumers Council of Missouri.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony and witnesses testifying online can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: