S.B. No. 612 amends the Water Code to regulate the fees and requirements imposed by certain districts on developers and retail public utilities constructing water or sewer pipelines. The bill introduces new definitions, including "Developer," which refers to individuals who subdivide land or request multiple service connections on a single tract. It specifies that districts cannot impose unduly burdensome construction requirements or fees exceeding the actual, reasonable, and documented costs incurred by the district for various associated services.

The bill also removes the term "retail public utility" from certain provisions, streamlining the language to focus on developers and their interactions with the districts. This legislative change aims to ensure that the costs imposed on developers are fair and directly related to the services provided by the districts, thereby promoting more efficient pipeline construction within the districts' service areas. The act is set to take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote from both houses or on September 1, 2025, if that threshold is not met.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Water Code 49.2127 (Water Code 49)