Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1014 By Senator Mayfield 19-01658-26 20261014__ Page 1 of 4 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. A bill to be entitled 1

An act relating to the provision of municipal utility 2 service to owners outside the municipal limits; 3 amending s. 180.19, F.S.; defining terms; prohibiting 4 a municipal utility from declining to extend service 5 to properties outside its corporate limits under 6 certain circumstances; requiring a municipal utility 7 to expand its service to an owner who makes such a 8 request under certain circumstances; requiring the 9 municipal utility to make a determination within a 10 specified timeframe and provide such determination to 11 the owner in writing; requiring the municipal utility 12 to provide the owner with specified information and to 13 connect properties in a timely manner; providing 14 minimum application filing requirements; authorizing 15 owners to bring a civil action to enforce the act; 16 authorizing a prevailing owner to collect certain fees 17 and costs; requiring the court to order the utility to 18 connect a prevailing owner’s property; providing 19 construction; providing an effective date. 20 21 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 22 23

Section 1. Subsection (3) is added to

section 180.19, 24 Florida Statutes, to read: 25 180.19 Use by other municipalities and by individuals 26 outside corporate limits.— 27 (3)(

a) As used in this subsection, the term: 28 1. “Controlling municipality” means a municipality 29 Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1014 19-01658-26 20261014__ Page 2 of 4 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. operating a utility pursuant to subsection (1) or a municipality 30 that has granted a utility a privilege or franchise pursuant to 31 subsection (2). 32 2. “Facility” means: 33 a. A water treatment facility, a wastewater treatment 34 facility, an intake station, a pumping station, a well, and 35 other physical components of a water or wastewater system; 36 b.

Pipes, tanks, pumps, or other facilities that transport 37 water from a water source or treatment facility to the consumer; 38 and 39 c.

Pipes, conduits, and associated appurtenances that 40 transport wastewater from the point of entry to a wastewater 41 treatment facility. 42 3. “Municipal utility” means a water or sewer utility 43 constituted on the basis of subsection (1) or subsection (2). 44 4. “Owner” means a property owner or association of 45 property owners. 46 5. “Property” means lots or lands, or, in the case of an 47 association of property owners, the contiguous group of lots or 48 lands under the association of property owners. 49 6. “Sufficient capacity” means a water or sewer utility 50 having, as applicable, the infrastructure, water supply, and 51 managerial and financial ability to reliably meet current and 52 reasonably anticipated future water demands and treat wastewater 53 flows while maintaining compliance with applicable state and 54 federal drinking water and wastewater standards and 55 requirements. 56 (

b) A municipal utility may not decline to extend service 57 to property outside of its corporate limits on the sole basis 58 Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1014 19-01658-26 20261014__ Page 3 of 4 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. that the owner refuses to assent or otherwise consent to such 59 property being annexed by that municipal utility’s controlling 60 municipality. 61 (

c) Upon application for service by an owner, a municipal 62 utility must expand its service territory to allow an owner 63 whose property is located outside of the municipal utility’s 64 service territory to connect to the municipal utility if: 65 1. The property is not within the service territory of 66 another water or wastewater utility, as applicable; 67 2. The municipal utility has sufficient capacity to serve 68 the property’s anticipated water or wastewater load, as 69 applicable; or 70 3. The property is within 2,000 meters of the municipal 71 utility’s facility, measured by the closest property boundary 72 line from such facility. 73 (

d) Upon application by an owner pursuant to paragraph (c), 74 the municipal utility must: 75 1. Within 90 days after receiving the application, 76 determine whether it has sufficient capacity to provide service 77 to the given property. Such determination may account for any 78 anticipated development on such property. The municipal utility 79 must provide, in writing, the owner with its determination and 80 the reasons for such determination. 81 2.

If the municipal utility has sufficient capacity to 82 serve the property, it must provide the owner with the 83 anticipated fees, charges, contributions, and any other 84 requirements to connect the property to the municipal utility 85 under its existing fee, charge, and contribution structure. 86 3.

Upon satisfaction of the requirements set forth by the 87 Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1014 19-01658-26 20261014__ Page 4 of 4 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. municipal utility pursuant to subparagraph 2., the municipal 88 utility shall connect the property to its system in a timely 89 manner. 90 (

e) A municipal utility may establish reasonable minimum 91 filing requirements for an application submitted pursuant to 92 paragraph (c), including: 93 1. A reasonable estimate of the anticipated water and 94 wastewater load for the property, including accounting for any 95 anticipated development on such property; 96 2. The nature of any anticipated development on such 97 property; and 98 3. An application fee to cover the reasonable costs 99 associated with conducting the capacity determination and 100 assessing anticipated fees, charges, contributions, and other 101 requirements, pursuant to subparagraphs (d)1. and 2. 102 (

f) If a municipal utility does not allow an owner to 103 connect with such utility in violation of this subsection, the 104 owner may bring a civil action to enforce this subsection in any 105 court of competent jurisdiction. If the owner prevails in such 106 enforcement action: 107 1. The owner may recover reasonable attorney fees and court 108 costs from the municipal utility; and 109 2. The court shall order the municipal utility to connect 110 to the owner’s property in question. 111 (

g) This subsection may not be construed to prevent a 112 municipal utility from collecting any rate, fee, charge, or 113 contribution authorized under law, including those authorized 114 pursuant to s. 180.191. 115

Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 116