Authorizes the public service commission to establish rules to limit a utility's ability to recover certain operating expenses
Summary
Authorizes and directs the public service commission to establish rules to limit a utility's ability to recover its direct or indirect costs associated with its attendance in, participation in, preparation for, or appeal of any rate proceeding conducted before the commission.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
Assembly Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 29, 2025
Last action Apr 16, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
S3734A
→
S3734B
·
5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended to shift from a strict prohibition on recovering legal costs to a directive for the Public Service Commission to create new rules limiting those costs. The sponsors were also expanded to include Senators Jackson and Oberacker, and the bill's legislative history was updated to reflect a recommitment to the committee for further review.
Scope change
The scope of the bill changed from an immediate ban on cost recovery to a framework requiring the commission to establish specific rules and guidelines by January 1, 2027.
REQUIREMENT
The requirement changed from an absolute ban on recovering legal and management expenses to authorizing the commission to set rules limiting such expenses.
The commission is now directed to consider specific factors, such as setting a percentage cap on non-recoverable expenses or establishing a baseline for reasonable participation costs.
New provisions were added to allow the commission to establish discovery parameters to reduce the time and costs associated with lengthy legal discovery processes.
TIMELINE
A new deadline was added, requiring the commission to establish these limiting rules by January 1, 2027.
ELIGIBILITY
The list of bill sponsors was updated to include Senators Jackson and Oberacker.
Floor votes · Senate Jun 12, 2025
How they voted
45–14
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 63
Jun 12, 2025
D
Democratic41
92% Yea
R
Republican22
63% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
18
Key actions
3
Committee
4
Amendments
2
Apr 16, 2026
Committee
REFERRED TO ENERGY
lower
Apr 15, 2026
Upper · Passed
PASSED SENATE
upper
Feb 25, 2026
Introduced
AMENDED (T) 3734B
upper
Jan 7, 2026
Committee
REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
upper
Jun 13, 2025
Committee
REFERRED TO ENERGY
lower
Jun 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
PASSED SENATE
upper
Jun 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
AMENDED ON THIRD READING 3734A
upper
Jan 29, 2025
Committee
REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
upper
1 primary · 5 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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