SB20-153 Summary

• Creates the Water Resources Financing Enterprise as a government-owned business to provide financing for water infrastructure through a fee-based system.

• Charges drinking water customers a fee of 25 cents per 1,000 gallons (after first 4,000 gallons monthly per connection), which drinking water suppliers collect and remit to the enterprise; enterprise board may adjust fees annually for inflation and equity concerns.

• Enterprise provides grants, loans (including below-market-rate options), and technical assistance to water providers (raw water suppliers, drinking water suppliers, and wastewater treatment suppliers) for infrastructure, conservation, planning, and construction projects.

• Enterprise board consists of members from the Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority and the Colorado Water Conservation Board; requires two-thirds vote to act and must meet at least quarterly.

• Enterprise may issue revenue bonds and is exempt from Article X, Section 20 of the state constitution as long as it retains authority to issue revenue bonds and receives less than 10 percent of total revenues in grants from Colorado state and local governments combined.