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 properties. Specifically, it establishes that no connection fees can be charged to these owners, with "connection fees" defined to include any impact fee or connection fee, or any other fee designed to circumvent this prohibition, excluding certain administrative, overhead, or equipment fees and construction costs related to the extension of or connection to a water main.

Additionally, the bill clarifies that the protections against such assessments apply only to agricultural operations existing as of July 1, 2025, and that these protections become void if the property is developed or sold to non-qualifying agricultural operations.

Furthermore, the bill allows for charges related to sewer utility extensions only if requested by the agricultural operation owner, and it stipulates that they can connect to any sewer utility extension made past their property at a normal tie-in cost without additional infrastructure charges. The previous provision that allowed for assessments within twenty years of the utility extension's operational status has been removed, thereby extending the protections for agricultural operations against such assessments indefinitely, provided they remain in compliance with the defined conditions. The act is set to take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
850: 42-82-16
850  SUB A: 42-82-16