Researcher: JSB Page 1 3/31/25
OLR Bill Analysis
sSB 1187
AN ACT CONCERNING FORECLOSURE, ASSIGNMENT AND
OTHER ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS FOR UNPAID SEWER
ASSESSMENTS AND OTHER FEES AND CHARGES.
SUMMARY
This bill generally limits the foreclosure and assignment of liens for
delinquent sewer assessments and charges on owner-occupied real
estate by municipal and regional sewer or water pollution control
authorities (WPCAs). But the bill’s restrictions do not apply to sewer
lien (1) foreclosures if they are foreclosed in an action involving tax or
other municipal liens and (2) assignments if tax or other municipal liens
on the property are currently assigned or are being assigned at the same
time.
Except as described above, the bill prohibits the following actions on
owner-occupied properties unless a lien’s principal amount exceeds
$3,000 or three years have passed since the lien was filed and it remains
unpaid:
1. municipal or regional WPCAs foreclosing liens for delinquent
sewer assessments or connection or use charges (§§ 1-3) and
2. municipal or regional WPCAs or regional sewer authorities
assigning liens for delinquent assessments or use charges (§§ 1-2
& 4).
For the regional entities, the principal amount of the liens for
delinquent assessments and charges must be combined to determine
whether they exceed the $4,000 threshold. For the municipal WPCAs,
the threshold is calculated separately for assessments and charges.
By law, unchanged by the bill, the statute of limitations for sewer
liens (like property tax liens) is generally 15 years (CGS § 12-175). 2025SB-01187-R000329-BA.DOCX
Researcher: JSB Page 2 3/31/25
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2025, and applicable to actions filed on
or after that date.
BACKGROUND
Sewer Fees
There are generally three types of sewer fees: benefit assessments,
user charges, and connection charges. Benefit assessments are meant to
cover the capital costs incurred in building sanitary sewer lines and
treatment plans. They are based on the actual or anticipated benefits a
property owner receives or will receive from the system. User charges
are paid by sewer line users and are designed to recoup the costs of
operating and maintaining the system. Connection charges apply when
a property owner ties his or her property to a sewer line.
Related Bills
sSB 1316, favorably reported by the Planning and Development
Committee, reduces, from 18% to 12%, the annual interest rate on
delinquent property taxes when a municipal tax collector files a lien on
the property and assigns the lien.
SB 1339, favorably reported by the Banking Committee, also reduces
the interest rate on these assigned liens to 12% and, among other things,
additionally caps certain attorney’s fees associated with them.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Planning and Development Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 13 Nay 7 (03/12/2025)