IdahoProposal would exempt some Idaho wastewater systems from utility regulation
If enacted, the proposal would exempt some small wastewater systems from utility regulation and let the commission charge regulated companies for oversight.
What it does
The proposal defines wastewater systems, customer connections, and the companies that run wastewater systems for payment.
Wastewater companies serving systems with fewer than 100 qualifying customer connections would be exempt from public utility regulation.
The Public Utilities Commission could charge regulated wastewater companies fees, capped at its reasonable oversight costs.
Argument forThe under-100-connection exemption could spare some small wastewater systems from public utility regulation.
Argument againstIf applied, commission fees could add oversight costs for regulated wastewater companies, up to the commission's reasonable costs.
More detail
The proposal would define wastewater systems, customer connections, and wastewater companies in state utility law. A wastewater system includes facilities used to collect, move, store, treat, reuse, or dispose of wastewater or sewage. A customer connection is a point where private sewage piping joins the system. A wastewater company is a person or corporation that owns, controls, operates, or manages a wastewater system for payment in Idaho. The proposal states it would take effect July 1, 2026, if enacted.
The proposal would exempt some wastewater companies from regulation as public utilities. The exemption concerns wastewater companies serving systems in Idaho. The exemption applies to a system with fewer than 100 connections that are actively flowing or for which customers pay a standby, ready-to-serve, or capacity reservation fee. The proposal states it would take effect July 1, 2026, if enacted.
The proposal would allow the Public Utilities Commission to charge some wastewater companies oversight fees. This applies to wastewater companies subject to commission regulation. The fees could not exceed the commission's reasonable costs for overseeing and regulating the company. The proposal states it would take effect July 1, 2026, if enacted.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 30Returned from House Failed; to Secretary of SenateLatest
- Mar 27Rules Suspended: Ayes 66 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 4, read in full as required – FAILED - 18-51-1AYES – Berch, Bingham, Church, Egbert, Galaviz, Gannon, Garner, Green, Mathias, Nelsen, Petzke, Raybould, Raymond, Rubel, Sauter, Veile, Weber, WheelerNAYS – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cayler, Cheatum, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Healey, Hill(Brown), Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Leavitt, Manwaring, Marmon, McCann, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Palmer, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Redman, Scott, Shepherd, Shirts, Skaug, Tanner(13), Tanner(14), Thompson, Vander Woude, Wisniewski, Mr. SpeakerAbsent – HawsFloor Sponsor - SauterOrder ret’d to Senate
- Vote recorded Rules Suspended: Ayes 66 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 4, read in full as required –. Result: fail.Lower
- Mar 27Read second time; Filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 26Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 25Read First Time, Referred to State AffairsMinor
- Vote recorded Read third time in full –. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 25Received from the Senate, Filed for First Reading
- Mar 25Read third time in full – PASSED - 21-14-0AYES – Adams, Anthon, Bernt, Blaylock, Burtenshaw, Cook, Galloway, Grow, Guthrie, Harris, Lenney, Lent, Rabe, Ruchti, Semmelroth, Shippy, Taylor, Toews, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow, WoodwardNAYS – Bjerke(Bjerke), Carlson, Den Hartog, Foreman, Hart, Keyser, Kohl, Lakey, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Ricks, VanOrden, Zito, ZuiderveldAbsent and excused – NoneFloor Sponsor - WoodwardTitle apvd - to HousePassed 1st Chamber
- Mar 24Read second time; filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 23Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second readingMinor
- Mar 17Reported Printed; referred to State Affairs
- Mar 16Introduced; read first time; referred to JR for PrintingIntroduced
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