MO SB274

Exempts property owners and third-party billing providers from classification as "public utilities," "sewer corporations," or "water corporations" when separately charging tenants for water and sewer usage under section 441.239.

Allows owners to charge tenants separately for water and sewer usage either by using individual meters in dwelling units or by employing a mathematical formula to allocate aggregate charges among all tenants.

Requires owners using separate meters to disclose individual usage charges, meter readings, and reading dates on each tenant's bill; owners using formula-based allocation must provide tenants with a written description of the formula before lease commencement.

Limits total charges billed to tenants to the amount the owner receives from the public utility, including taxes and surcharges; permits owners to collect reasonable administrative fees and late payment fees (deemed "rent") if disclosed prior to lease commencement.

Permits owners to hire third-party billing providers to implement water and sewer billing services, with such providers subject to the same disclosure, calculation, and cost-limitation requirements as direct owner billing.