19257_Authority_June_2026

municipalauthorities.org │ 63 1000 North Front Street, Suite 401, Wormleysburg, PA 17043 717-737-7655 . 717-737-8431 (f) . info@municipalauthorities.org m u n i c i p a l a u t h o r i t i e s . o r g TO: Chairman Burgos, Chairman Metzgar, and members of the House Consumer Protection, Technology, and Utilities Committee FROM: Jennie Shade, Senior Director of Government Relations DATE: March 12, 2026 SUBJECT: Support of HB 1964 P.N. 2471 3riYati]inJ 3ennsylYania’s public water and wastewater systems cRuld cRst Iamilies and cRmmunities IRr JeneratiRns I am writing on behalf of the Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association (PMAA), representing nearly 700 municipal authorities serving over six million residents across the Commonwealth. The vast majority of our members provide essential drinking water and wastewater services that families, businesses, and communities depend on every day. PMAA strongly supports HB 1964 P.N. 2471, which would temporarily halt the privatization of public water and wastewater systems and create a Water Utility Reform Working Group to examine the impacts of recent acquisition and valuation policies on municipalities, ratepayers, and the long-term system sustainability of our water and wastewater infrastructure. The bill also repeals Pennsylvania’s “Fair Market Value” law (Act 12 of 2016), which has incentivized the sale of public systems under terms that can disadvantage communities. Over the past decade, fiscal pressures on local governments and shifting valuation policies have accelerated the sale of publicly owned systems to private utilities. While such sales may offer short-term relief for municipal budgets, they often lead to higher long-term costs for ratepayers, diminished local control, and reduced accountability. Once systems are privatized, communities have little recourse to reverse these decisions, leaving residents vulnerable to unpredictable rate increases and service charges. Municipal authorities provide a proven, transparent, and accountable model for delivering safe drinking water and effective wastewater treatment. Established under the Pennsylvania Municipality Authorities Act, they have financed, built, and operated complex systems for decades while remaining directly accountable to the people they serve. Water and wastewater infrastructure is one of the most significant, long-term investments a community makes. Decisions about ownership made today affect affordability, reliability, and public health for generations. HB 1964 offers a responsible and balanced path forward. By temporarily pausing privatization while policymakers fully evaluate current acquisition and valuation practices, the bill ensures that critical public services remain affordable, reliable, and locally controlled. It provides an opportunity to protect communities, safeguard families’ water bills, and maintain the integrity of one of our most essential public resources. On behalf of our members, we respectfully urge your support for HB 1964 P.N. 2471. Thank you for your consideration of this important issue. We also extend our sincere appreciation to Chairman Burgos for his leadership in advancing this vital legislation. Government Relations Update continued from page 24.