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. It specifically defines "connection fees" and clarifies that these fees cannot be imposed on agricultural operations with frontage on public roadways, effective for those in existence as of July 1, 2026. The bill states that the protections against such assessments will be void if the agricultural property is developed or sold to non-qualifying agricultural operations.

Additionally, the bill allows owners of agricultural operations to be charged only for sewer utility extensions if they request them, and they can connect to any sewer extension made past their property at the normal tie-in cost without additional infrastructure charges. The previous provision that voided protections if the property was developed or sold within twenty years has been removed, thereby extending the protections indefinitely as long as the property remains with qualifying agricultural operations. The act will take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
2263: 42-82-16