HB593 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Reed IngramRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Utilities, counties, municipalities, authorities, transfer or use of public funds, for repair or replacement of private sewer laterals, authorized, recovery provided

Summary

This bill would let local governments use public funds to repair or replace private sewer laterals and recover the costs by charging the property owner through their utility bill.

What This Bill Does

It defines a private sewer lateral as a line on private property that connects to the public sewer system (not the portion inside a building). It authorizes counties, municipalities, or authorities to use public funds to repair or replace a private sewer lateral if the owner requests help and certifies financial inability, after adopting a resolution that the work serves a public purpose. It allows the actual cost to be recovered by prorating it on the owner's utility bill, with terms mutually agreed in the resolution. It also requires the property to be restored to its pre-repair condition and clarifies that the public entity is not the owner and is not obligated to perform other duties unless a resolution accepts them.

Who It Affects

• Property owners who have a failing private sewer lateral and certify they cannot pay for repairs; they may receive public funding for repairs with costs charged back to their utility bill.
• Local governments or authorities (counties, municipalities, or Title 11 authorities) that would perform the repairs using public funds and then recover costs from owners, while deciding whether to take on additional duties through resolutions.

Key Provisions

• Provision 1: The act allows use of public funds to repair or replace private sewer laterals and to recover those costs by prorating them on the owner's utility bill, following a written request and a resolution stating the work serves a public purpose.
• Provision 2: The act states the government entity is not obligated to replace the lateral, must restore the property to its original condition after repair, and is not considered the owner or obligated to additional duties unless a resolution is adopted accepting such duties; it becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Utilities