HLS 23RS-2360 ORIGINAL
2023 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 656 (Substitute for House Bill No. 373 by Representative
DeVillier)
BY REPRESENTATIVE DEVILLIER
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
WATER/DRINKING WATER: Provides relative to water cooperatives
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 45:1604, relative to water cooperatives; to prohibit cooperatives from denying
3 certain requests for water service; to provide for exceptions; and to provide for
4 related matters.
5Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 45:1604 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
7 ยง1604. Requirement to provide service
8 No water cooperative shall arbitrarily deny a request for water service to a
9 properly permitted residential or commercial structure that is located within the
10 cooperative's service area. This Section does not prohibit a cooperative from
11 discontinuing water service to a customer who fails to pay service charges or for
12 other just cause. Notwithstanding R.S. 45:1603, this Section applies to all water
13 cooperatives.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 656 Original 2023 Regular Session DeVillier
Abstract: Prohibits water cooperatives from arbitrarily denying requests for water service.
Present law defines a water cooperative as a nonprofit water utility cooperative or
corporation that is wholly owned by water user members.
Page 1 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 23RS-2360 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 656
Proposed law prohibits a water cooperative from denying a request for water service to a
properly permitted residential or commercial structure that is located within the cooperative's
service area. Proposed law does not prohibit discontinuing service to a customer for a just
cause.
(Adds R.S. 45:1604)
Page 2 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.