Utilities, Utility Districts - As enacted, makes revisions to present law relative to utilities. - Amends TCA Title 7; Title 13, Chapter 7; Title 65 and Title 68.

HB 542 requires utilities (including county or municipal water systems) to review development plans for water, electricity, or gas infrastructure within 30 days. If a utility misses this deadline, developers can hire a third-party examiner to certify compliance with codes and submit documentation to the utility. The utility must then approve the plans within 10 business days, refund fees for delays, or provide deficiency reports. The bill also caps utility inspection fees for approved projects at 2% of development costs and mandates utilities to publish approved material specifications. This directly affects developers seeking faster approvals and utilities managing infrastructure reviews.