Pennsylvania HB1954: An Act providing for a moratorium on the privatization of public water and wastewater systems; establishing the Water Utility Reform Working Group; and making a repeal relating to valuation of acquired water and wastewater systems.

What the bill says

From the introduced text, October 16, 2025:

PRINTER'S NO. 2462 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL No. Session of INTRODUCED BY BURGOS, BOROWSKI, SAPPEY, HANBIDGE, KRUEGER, KAZEEM, O'MARA, GUZMAN, McNEILL, HILL-EVANS, PROBST, MAYES, HOHENSTEIN, DONAHUE, STEELE, K.HARRIS, FREEMAN, HADDOCK, GREEN, CIRESI, PARKER AND GILLEN, OCTOBER 15, 2025 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY, OCTOBER 16, 2025 Providing for a moratorium on the privatization of public water and wastewater systems; establishing the Water Utility Reform Working Group; and making a repeal relating to valuation of acquired water and wastewater systems. The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows: Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as the Public Water Protection and Fair Utility Transition Act. Section 2. Findings and declarations. The General Assembly finds and declares as follows: (1) Access to clean, affordable water is a fundamental human need and a matter of public interest. (2) Since the enactment of 66 Pa.C.S. § 1329 (relating to valuation of acquired water and wastewater systems) through Act No. 12 of 2016, the fair market valuation mechanism has led to rapid privatization of publicly owned water and wastewater systems, often resulting in significant rate increases for the residents of this Commonwealth. (3) The long-term public, environmental and economic consequences of these transactions have not been sufficiently studied nor addressed …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Danilo Burgos (D, 197) · primary sponsor
• Lisa Borowski (D, 168)
• Christina Sappey (D, 158)
• Liz Hanbidge (D, HD-061)
• Leanne Krueger (D, 161)
• Carol Kazeem (D, 159)
• Jennifer O'Mara (D, 165)
• Manuel Guzman (D, 127)
• Jeanne McNeill (D, 133)
• Carol Hill-Evans (D, 95)
• Tarah Probst (D, 189)
• La'Tasha Mayes (D, 24)

Latest actions

1. October 16, 2025: Referred to COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY, Oct. 16, 2025

Common questions

What is HB1954?

HB1954 is a bill in the Pennsylvania Legislature (2025-2026 Regular Session): An Act providing for a moratorium on the privatization of public water and wastewater systems; establishing the Water Utility Reform Working Group; and making a repeal relating to valuation of acquired water and wastewater systems.

What is the status of HB1954?

In committee as of October 16, 2025. Latest action: Referred to COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY, Oct. 16, 2025 (October 16, 2025).

Who sponsored HB1954?

Danilo Burgos (D, 197), with 11 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for HB1954?

On the Pennsylvania Legislature website: https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/2025/hb1954