REGULATION OF BUILDING MATERIALS

ANNEXATION

• SB 23 would remove the ability of municipalities to initiate annexations. Only voluntary and super-voluntary annexations would be allowed were SB 23 to pass into law.
• Annexation is a valuable tool for growing communities. Removing the ability of municipalities to initiate an annexation would disrupt long term planning and the ability of cities and towns to grow. In light of the significant reform of the annexation statute in 2015, Aim opposes SB 23’s attempt to further limit our ability to grow and develop through annexation.
• SB 23, authored by Senator Phil Boots, passed Senate Local Government committee on Thursday 6-4 and will be heard by the full Senate next week.

EXTENSION OF SEWER AND WATER MAINS

• If a municipally-owned utility is extending sewer or water service to a new development, the developer pays the cost of the extension. If the utility wants larger mains in preparation for future growth than are necessary for the project at hand, HB 1131 would require the utility to pay the difference in cost to install the larger main.
• Aim opposes this bill because the standards in set by statute in the bill largely removes the flexibility that non-regulated utilities have to craft their agreements with developers.
• HB 1131, authored by Representative Jim Pressel, was heard in the House Utilities Committee on Wednesday but was held for further amendment and discussion.

CONTROLLED PROJECTS

• SB 190 would exempt roads, streets, and bridges from the definition of a controlled project so that a road project would never trigger a referendum or the petition/remonstrance process.
• Aim supports this bill because we do not believe it was ever the intention of the controlled projects statute to include road projects, and we have seen instances of communities coming up against these requirements as they grow and develop.
• SB 190, authored by Senator Travis Holdman, will be heard next Tuesday in the Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee.

MUNICIPALLY OWNED UTILITIES

• HB 1165 would prohibit municipal utilities from ever holding property owners liable for the unpaid utility bills of their tenants unless the property owner specifically requests to hold the utility bill in his/her name.
• Aim opposes this bill because it hamstrings the ability of municipal utilities to recover unpaid bills and undermines existing practice in many of the utilities around the state.
• HB 1165, authored by Representative Woody Burton, was heard in the House Utilities Committee on Wednesday but was held for a week for amendment.

“One of Governor Holcomb’s main agenda items for this year would ban the use of handheld devices while you’re driving. So, no more holding your cell phone in your hand or even talking on the phone as you’re driving down the road. Obviously distracted driving causes a lot of accidents across the state, a lot of really tragic stories that are being told. So as a public safety initiative, the [Aim] legislative committee did sign off yesterday on actively supporting Governor Holcomb and Rep. Sullivan’s effort to prevent distracted driving.”

– Lindsey Moss, Aim Chief Government Affairs Officer & Legislative Counsel