Municipal Water and Sewer Hookups

HB 4537 would require municipalities and public service districts to take specific actions when potential customers apply to be connected to public water or sewer service.

Sponsors: Gary Howell, Glenn Jeffries, Tom Willis

ISSUES: Pure Water

CWV Position: Supports

Position Statement: HB 4537 strengthens and clarifies municipal authority over water and sewer hookups, helping ensure orderly system expansion, protect water quality, and support reliable public water and wastewater infrastructure.

• Protects water quality: Clear authority over hookups helps municipalities prevent improper or unsafe connections that can threaten drinking water and downstream water quality.

• Supports sound infrastructure planning: Allowing local governments to manage how and when connections occur helps avoid over-extension of systems that can lead to failures, leaks, or untreated discharges.

• Respects local control: Water and sewer systems are local, place-based infrastructure. HB 4537 supports community decision-making tailored to system capacity and environmental conditions.

• Promotes public health and environmental protection: Properly managed hookups reduce risks of contamination, sewage overflows, and infrastructure stress — all core CWV concerns.

Status: Introduced on 1/19/26; referred to House Environment, Infrastructure, and Technology Committee on 1/19/26.