Bill Summary

by Sirois, Oliver  CS Sponsors: Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee, Commerce Committee

Utilities : Requires municipalities that operate utility services to allow other municipalities & property owners outside its municipal boundaries to connect with & use its utility services under specified conditions; prohibits municipalities that operate utility services from denying such services based on specified criteria; requires municipalities to make certain determinations; provides for appeal of such determinations; provides that municipalities are not liable for such fees & costs under certain conditions; authorizes notices for rural electrical cooperative board of trustees meetings to be delivered by electronic mail; revises notice requirements for meetings during which elections will occur; requires board of trustees, beginning on specified date, to annually prepare list of cooperative members & to make list available for certain inspection; revises quorum requirements; revises requirements for rural electrical cooperative bylaws; requires appointment of election inspectors; authorizes rural electric cooperatives to conduct elections & membership votes through electronic voting; requires electronic voting to be authorized by resolution of board of trustees; provides for cooperative members to consent to & opt out of electronic voting; provides for cooperative members to petition board of trustees to adopt electronic voting. Effective Date: July 1, 2026

   H Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee
   H Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
   H Commerce Committee