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Senator
Brown Testifies on Bill to Protect New Homeowners from Water
Liens
Last week, state Senator Edna Brown (D-Toledo) testified on
Senate Bill 75 before the Senate Energy and Natural
Resources Committee. The bill helps protect homeowners from
facing unforeseen property liens due to a previous owner’s
unpaid water bills.
“Under current law, water authorities may place tax liens on
a property for water bills of any age, regardless of changes
in ownership to the home,” said Senator Brown. “As a result,
people may be unexpectedly burdened with the debts of others
because the outstanding charges were not reported in a
timely manner. That’s simply unfair.”
SB 75 provides a buyer or seller of a property the
opportunity to request and pay a final water bill at the
time the property is sold. A county or city would be
prohibited from placing a lien on the property for water
bills in arrears if none were reported at the time of
purchase.
“This issue came to my attention when a homeowner in my
district unknowingly had property taxes diverted to pay on a
20-year-old delinquent water bill from a previous owner,”
said Senator Brown. “This bill will help us protect
homeowners, improve government efficiency and it’s the right
thing to do.”
More information about SB 75 can be found
here.
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