COMMUNICATION SERVICES OFFERED BY MUNICIPALITIES (Section 71.284) - This act prohibits a local government from using financial resources or subsidization to offer a competitive communications service where a private business also offers such service unless the use of such financial resources is approved by voters. This act exempts a local government from this prohibition if the local government makes a request for a communications service of a specific speed, at a specific location, on a specific date, and all existing communication service providers within the local government boundaries are unable to provide such service.

This provision is identical to SCS/SB 186 (2017), and is similar to HCS/HB 2078 (2016) and SB 946 (2016).

MUNICIPALLY-OWNED UTILITIES (Section 88.770) - Currently, cities of the fourth classification may only sell their interest in a municipally-owned utility when ratified by a 2/3 vote. This act lowers the voter-approval threshold for the sale of a water or wastewater system by such cities to a majority of the city's population.

This provision is identical to a provision contained in CCS/HCS/SCS/SB 11 (2017), HCS/SB 30 (2017), and HCS/SCS/SB 112 (2017).

KAYLA HAHN