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SB00335

Law on Utility Charges for Residential Units

Last scannedAug 25, 2026, 6:19 AM

In one sentence

This law stops landlords from charging tenants extra fees or bills for heat and utilities unless the apartment has its own meter.

What it does

  • Requires that a tenant only be charged for utilities if their unit has an individual meter to measure use exclusively delivered to them.
  • Bans rental agreements that charge a surcharge for heat or utilities when those costs are included in rent.
  • Makes any rule in a lease about these utility charges unenforceable by law.

Who it affects

  • Tenants living in residential dwelling units
  • Landlords who rent out residential properties

Limits and unknowns

  • This law applies only to rental agreements entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2026.
  • The text does not specify how utility costs should be calculated if individual meters are present.

Plain language

Terms to know

Individual meter
A device used to measure utilities delivered exclusively to one specific tenant's unit.
Surcharge
An extra fee added for heat or utilities when those costs are already included in the rent agreement.

Official record

Sources

Validated
Official bill pageIntroduced textOfficial digestCurrent bill textStored full record

Official summary

To require that a tenant only be charged for utilities if such tenant's dwelling unit has an individual meter.

Official activity

Bill history

  1. Signed by the Governor
  2. Transmitted to the Secretary of State
  3. Transmitted by Secretary of the State to Governor
  4. Public Act 26-113LCO
  5. House Rejected House Amendment Schedule A 5798
  6. House Rejected House Amendment Schedule B 5802
  7. House Passed
  8. In Concurrence
  9. Senate Passed
  10. Rules Suspended, Transmitted to the House
  11. Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, House
  12. House Calendar Number 518
  13. Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' OfficeLCO
  14. Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, Senate
  15. Senate Calendar Number 109
  16. File Number 156LCO
  17. Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 03/23/26 5:00 PMLCO
  18. Filed with Legislative Commissioners' OfficeLCO
  19. Joint Favorable SubstituteHSG
  20. Public Hearing 03/03