New Jersey Senate Bill S1877

New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/28/22
• Refer: 2/28/22

Caption

Requires municipalities to provide certain information to property owners served by municipal water systems.

Impact

The bill amends existing statutes R.S.40:62-101 and R.S.40:62-106 to ensure property owners are aware of their financial responsibilities. These amendments outline that property owners must be informed of their obligations concerning maintenance, repair, and potential liabilities for service lines, notably those that connect their properties to municipal water systems. This initiative aims to rectify situations where property owners face unexpected costs and responsibilities without prior notice or understanding.

Summary

Bill S1877, introduced in the New Jersey Legislature, mandates that municipalities providing water services must furnish property owners with detailed written terms and conditions related to those services. The intention of the bill is to enhance transparency for property owners regarding their financial obligations alongside the services received from municipal utilities, specifically in the context of any repairs needed for service connections.

Contention

While the bill ostensibly seeks to protect property owners by providing them with essential information, there could be concerns regarding the implementation and breadth of compliance from municipalities. The requirement to post these terms online and convey them annually with billing statements imposes additional duties on municipal bodies. Critics may argue that this could strain local resources, particularly in small municipalities that might struggle with administrative capacity.