New bipartisan legislation introduced in Michigan to address water affordability and access

by Jo Mayer and Paul Crandall

“I can’t afford to keep my house.”

Heartbreaking words, spoken by a client to Gwen Reid, Stockbridge Community Outreach director, in early November as the client faced elevated water and heating bills, along with a rise in property taxes.  

But some help may be on the way. State efforts are brewing to help low-income households pay for clean tap water and to help communities and utilities stay afloat as well.

According to Rep. Jennifer Conlin, who represents District 48 in the Michigan House, new bipartisan water legislation has been introduced in both chambers. Senate bills 248-256 and House bill 4555 address affordability, access and accountability for water providers.

“These measures aim to ensure that every Michigander has continued and equitable access to this vital resource,” Conlin said via email. She added that the senate bills are awaiting further review in the Senate Housing and Human Services Committee, while the house bill has been referred to the House Government Operations Committee.

The legislation would limit water and sewer bills for eligible households to 2-3% of income and create a permanent fund financed by a $1.25 monthly meter charge, according to a recent article, “Michigan Lawmakers revive push for income-based water bills,” by Garret Ellison of MLive.

The bills would create a program administered by Michigan’s Department of Health and Human Services to “reimburse utilities for lost revenue, forgive up to $3,000 in past-due bills, prevent shutoffs for the medically vulnerable, and pay for minor plumbing fixes,” said Ellison in the Nov. 10, 2025, article.

These bills come as water rates continue to spike faster than inflation and while communities struggle to pay for mandated upgrades to their water system infrastructure.

According to a recent University of Michigan study titled Water Service Affordability in Michigan: A Statewide Assessment, the inflation-adjusted average cost of water across Michigan has increased 188% since 1980, with roughly 7% to 11% of households across the state having trouble paying their water bills.

“I believe that every Michigander should have access to safe, clean drinking water,” Conlin said in the email. “With such unbridled access to clean water here in Michigan, there is no reason that anyone in our communities should struggle for safe drinking water.”

Conlin invites those interested in tracking the progress of these bills to use the following link to sign up for committee meeting notices: legislature.mi.gov/Home/ListServerSignUp