Last week, A-5538 which prohibits municipal utilities authority from charging fire district and fire department water service charges for fire protection systems in certain circumstances was favorably reported from the Assembly Appropriations Committee. The League opposes this legislation as it forces other utility users to subsidize the cost of the fire district. The Office of Legislative Services concluded that the bill would result in an annual local government revenue loss.
S-4344, the senate companion, has not yet been scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee.