A bill for an act relating to residential tenant responsibility for utility charges, providing civil penalties, and including applicability provisions.

This bill clarifies that when a rental agreement makes a tenant responsible for utility payments, landlords cannot be held liable for unpaid charges. It prohibits utilities from billing landlords, placing liens on landlords' property, or conditioning service on landlord payments for tenant-related utility debts. Utilities must maintain separate billing for tenants and face civil penalties of $500-$5,000 per violation for noncompliance. The law directly affects landlords, tenants, and utility companies by shifting responsibility for tenant utility payments exclusively to the tenant and their utility account.