RELATING TO WATER CARRIERS.

Changed the automatic adjustment mechanism from a mandatory requirement to an optional authority, allowing the commission to establish it only after July 1, 2026, rather than by that date.

Deleted the requirement to appoint a special independent overseer to monitor water carrier financial and operational performance.

Updated the effective date of the act to July 1, 3000, and added a repeal date of July 1, 2033, replacing the previous indefinite effective date.

Added a new provision exempting customers eligible for preferential agricultural water rates from any automatic adjustment mechanism.

Added a requirement for the Public Utilities Commission to appoint an independent 'special overseer' to monitor water carriers that have received large rate increases or are the sole provider of services.

Granted the special overseer specific powers to examine financial records, attend board meetings, verify performance reports, and report directly to the legislature.

Established that the costs of the special overseer must be paid by the water carrier and cannot be recovered through customer rates.

Corrected the effective date of the Act from July 1, 3000, to July 1, 2026, and updated the appointment deadline for the overseer.

Adjusted references to rate increase applications and tariff filings to clarify procedures for water carriers.

The effective date of the Act was changed from 'upon approval' to 'July 1, 3000'.

Minor text adjustments were made to clarify the commission's authority to suspend rates pending hearings and the burden of proof for carriers seeking rate changes.

The bill title and header information were updated to reflect the House District 1 version (HD1) and changed the author name from Jill M. Tsuchitori to Chris Kobayashi.