Relating to the acquisition of water, sanitary sewer, and storm water utilities by rate-regulated public utilities

Sponsored by the Senate Commerce Committee

Topics:Business & economy

Same legislation: HF 56, HF 473, HF 2101

Write your legislators about itWhat changed before it passed

Official bill page Lobbyist declarations One-pager to print

Where it is now

Done: IntroducedJanuary 18, 2023
Skipped: SubcommitteeSkipped
Done: Senate committeeFebruary 27, 2023
Done: Passes the SenateFebruary 26, 202446–0
Skipped: House committeeSkipped
Done: Passes the HouseFebruary 19, 202491–0
Done: To the GovernorApril 10, 2024
Done: Signed into lawApril 10, 2024

HF 2101 became law → The same legislation passed as HF 2101, so this version was set aside. Go to HF 2101 What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

This bill relates to the acquisition of water, sanitary sewer, and storm water utilities by rate-regulated public utilities. The bill increases the threshold amount requiring utilities board (board) approval from $500,000 to $3 million when a public utility is acquiring a water, sanitary sewer, or storm water utility. The bill modifies city utility acquisition to include that the city must first certify completion of certain requirements, including an appraisal for the fair market value of the utility system, discussion of alternatives of the sale of the utility system, and a city council proposal for the sale.

Read the full explanation

A certified completion shall include an affirmation that the city has complied timely and substantially to the acquisition. Current law requires that the city meets the requirements, but the city does not need to certify compliance. The bill provides that the rate base in the final order approving an acquisition shall include reasonable and customary closing costs, the cost of appraisals, and regulatory and legal expenses incurred in connection with the acquisition. The bill requires the public utility to submit a purchase agreement for the acquisition to the board to determine ratemaking principles. Purchase agreements must substantially comply with certain requirements. The bill provides that the board shall issue a final order within 120 days of the filing of an application for the acquisition of an at-risk utility system, or an order within 180 days for all other acquisitions. Current law provides that the board shall issue a final order within 120 days of filing the application for a utility that is an at-risk system.

From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Amendments adopted later aren’t reflected. Full bill text · What changed before it passed

Iowa Code it changes

Amends§476.84

Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works

Lobbying

3 for · 1 against · 16 undecided · Who →

Family tree

Where this legislation came from and where it went: earlier tries, the versions it moved through this Assembly, and later bills built on it.

90th General Assembly

HF 56RenumberedHouse companion HF 473Renumberedfrom HF 56 HF 2101Became lawfrom HF 473 SF 2181Didn’t advanceSenate companion

Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title; check the text to be sure it’s the same idea.