The bill amends Section 42-82-16 of the General Laws under the "Farmland Preservation Act" to prohibit cities, towns, quasi-municipal corporations, or public corporations from assessing owners of agricultural operations for the extension of water utilities past their property. Specifically, it states that no assessments, including impact fees or connection fees, can be levied against agricultural operations that have been in existence as of July 1, 2025, and have frontage on a public roadway. The bill also outlines that agricultural operations eligible for these protections must be listed on the division of agriculture’s list and comply with specific provisions.

Additionally, the bill clarifies that owners of agricultural operations may only be charged for sewer utility extensions if they have requested such extensions, and they can tie into any sewer or water utility extensions at no cost, aside from a base usable charge. The protections provided by this section will be void if the owner develops or sells the property to a non-qualifying agricultural operation within twenty years of the utility extensions becoming operational. The act is set to take effect upon passage.