HB0225 • 2026

Consumer Fairness in Utility Rates

Taxes

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Robinson, F. ; (CO-INTRODUCERS) Campbell
Last action: 2026-03-13
Official status: House - Died in Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee
Effective date: 2026-07-01

Plain English Breakdown

The official metadata indicates a conflict: the bill status label says it passed both chambers, but the last action states it 'Died in Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee.' The explanation reflects the text of the act as if enacted.

Consumer Fairness in Utility Rates Act of 2025

This law requires certain Florida municipalities with utility facilities inside another town to charge the same base rates and fees to customers there as they do within their own borders.

What This Bill Does

Requires utilities operating a facility in a recipient municipality to charge the same base rates, fees, and charges to consumers in that area as those living within the utility's municipal boundaries.
Prohibits adding surcharges on consumers in a recipient municipality unless they are directly tied to documented service or infrastructure costs and clearly disclosed in writing at billing time.
Bans using utility surcharges as a general source of revenue or profit for the municipality.
Mandates public hearings before establishing or adjusting rates, fees, or surcharges to allow input from consumers in both areas.
Requires municipalities to file annual reports with the Public Service Commission detailing how they use surcharge revenues.
Gives the Public Service Commission authority to review consumer disputes regarding fairness and compliance.

Who It Names or Affects

Municipalities operating water or sewer utilities that have a facility located within another municipality's boundaries
Consumers living in recipient municipalities who receive service from these systems
The Florida Public Service Commission

Terms To Know

Facility: A physical part of the utility system, such as a water treatment plant, wastewater facility, pumping station, or well.
Recipient municipality: A town that receives water or sewer service from another municipality's utility system.

Limits and Unknowns

The law only applies to municipalities operating a facility located within the boundaries of a recipient municipality.
Surcharges are allowed only if they meet specific conditions regarding cost documentation and written disclosure.
The text does not specify penalties for failing to follow these rules.

Bill History

2026-03-13 House
• Died in Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee
2026-01-13 House
• 1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
2025-10-28 House
• Referred to Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee • Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee • Referred to Commerce Committee • Now in Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee
2025-10-21 House
• Filed

Official Summary Text

Consumer Fairness in Utility Rates; Requires certain municipalities to impose same utility rates, fees, & charges on consumers within its municipal boundaries & boundaries of recipient municipality; prohibits such municipalities from imposing surcharges on consumers within boundaries of recipient municipality unless certain conditions are met; prohibits certain use of such surcharges; requires such municipalities to hold certain public hearings; requires certain municipalities to file specified reports with PSC; requires PSC to review certain consumer disputes & make certain determinations.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB 225 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb225-00
Page 1 of 3
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to consumer fairness in utility rates; 2
amending s. 180.191, F.S.; providing a short title; 3
defining the terms "facility" and "recipient 4
municipality"; requiring certain municipalities to 5
impose the same utility rates, fees, and charges on 6
consumers within its municipal boundaries and the 7
boundaries of a recipient municipality; prohibiting 8
such municipalities from imposing surcharges on 9
consumers within the boundaries of a recipient 10
municipality unless certain conditions are met; 11
prohibiting certain use of such surcharges; requiring 12
such municipalities to hold certain public hearings; 13
requiring certain municipalities to file specified 14
reports with the Public Service Commission; requiring 15
the commission to review certain consumer disputes and 16
make certain determinations; providing an effective 17
date. 18
19
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 20
21
Section 1. Section 180.191, Florida Statutes, is amended 22
to read: 23
(Substantial rewording of section. See 24
s. 180.191, F.S., for present text.) 25

HB 225 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb225-00
Page 2 of 3
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

180.191 Consumer fairness in utility rates.— 26
(1) This section may be cited as the "Consumer Fairness in 27
Utility Rates Act of 2025." 28
(2) As used in this section, the term: 29
(a) "Facility" means a water treatment facility, a 30
wastewater treatment facility, a pumping station, a well, or 31
other physical component of a utility system. 32
(b) "Recipient municipality" means a municipality that 33
receives water or sewer service from another municipality's 34
utility system. 35
(3) A municipality operating a water or sewer utility that 36
has a facility located within a recipient municipality must 37
impose the same base rates, fees, and charges on consumers 38
within the recipient municipality as it does on consumers within 39
its municipal boundaries. 40
(4)(a) A municipality operating a water or sewer utility 41
that has a facility located within a recipient municipality may 42
not impose a surcharge on consumers within the boundaries of the 43
recipient municipality unless the surcharge is: 44
1. Directly tied to documented costs of service, 45
maintenance, or infrastructure investment; and 46
2. Clearly disclosed to the consumer in writing at the 47
time of billing. 48
(b) Surcharges may not be used as a general revenue source 49
or profit margin. 50

HB 225 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb225-00
Page 3 of 3
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

(5) Before establishing or adjusting rates, fees, or 51
surcharges, a municipality operating a water or sewer utility 52
that has a facility located within a recipient municipality must 53
hold a public hearing to allow input from consumers within its 54
municipal boundaries and the boundaries of the recipient 55
municipality. 56
(6) A municipality operating a water or sewer utility must 57
file an annual report with the Public Service Commission 58
detailing the use of surcharge revenues. 59
(7) Consumer disputes over rates, fees, or surcharges must 60
be reviewed by the Public Service Commission for a determination 61
of fairness and compliance with this section. 62
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 63