S.B. 325 Summary

• Amends Ohio Revised Code sections 743.04 and 6103.02 to establish conditions for placing unpaid water service charges on property tax lists as liens, requiring certification that charges arose from a service contract with an occupying owner and that the property either has not been sold or the current/previous owner did not request or pay a final bill.

• Requires municipalities and counties to provide final billing upon timely written request (at least 14 days before property transfer) and must render the bill within 10 days of the request.

• Permits placing unpaid water charges on property tax duplicate only when neither party to a property sale requested a final bill or paid outstanding charges on a rendered final bill.

• Allows partial payments of $10 or more on unpaid water charges before certification to the county auditor, and requires establishment of fair billing dispute resolution procedures with quarterly meter readings.

• Updates gender-specific pronouns to neutral language throughout both sections and clarifies authority terminology for municipal officials and county boards managing water service operations.