On March 31, the Territorial Collectivity of Martinique issued a press release hailing a major parliamentary breakthrough. During the session on March 31, 2026, the Senate adopted, under an expedited procedure, the bill authorizing the Martinique Assembly to establish its own rules applicable within its territory regarding energy, water, and sanitation, in the form proposed by the committee. But it’s not over yet!
The text, sponsored by two rapporteurs: Guillaume Chevrollier on behalf of the Committee on Land Use Planning and Sustainable Development, and Patrick Chauvet on behalf of the Economic Affairs Committee, received unanimous approval from the upper house.
This vote marks an important step, but it is not yet the culmination of the process. It is, in fact, an enabling bill based on Article 73 of the Constitution and Articles LO 7412-1 through LO 7412-3 of the General Code of Local Authorities, which consists of two articles: one empowering the Assembly of Martinique to adopt specific measures regarding energy, and the other to establish and implement a single authority to which powers regarding water and sanitation would be delegated.
A Second Decisive Step: The National Assembly
The bill must now be reviewed by the National Assembly before it can be enacted. The CTM itself states this in its press release, declaring that it is «fully committed to the National Assembly’s review of the bill, a decisive step toward its final adoption.» In the absence of a joint committee (since both chambers have been working under an expedited procedure on a bill that had already been drafted in committee), the deputies’ vote will be decisive.
What Authorization Actually Enables
On the issue of water, the enabling legislation aims to establish a Single Territorial Authority for Water and Sanitation (ATUEA), the creation of which was approved in November 2023. This structure is intended to enable the establishment of a single water rate and a subsidized water rate, shared management of infrastructure, more effective mobilization of funding, and a more equitable distribution of water resources during periods of drought.
In the area of energy, the bill aims to adapt building energy efficiency regulations to local climate conditions, strengthen energy demand management, accelerate the development of renewable energy, and better organize sustainable mobility policies.
A lengthy process; legitimacy built over time
This vote is part of a long-standing process. Over the past three years, the CTM has voted in favor of creating a single water authority, approved a request for authorization to establish its rules, and voted to implement this authority. The founding resolution dates back to January 5, 2026, when the Martinique Assembly unanimously adopted the principle of this structural reform amid intense social tension surrounding water outages in the northern part of the country.
For its part, the Council of State had issued a favorable opinion on the bill, finding that the authorization takes into account the specific characteristics of the territorial collectivity of Martinique and meets the conditions set forth in Article 73 of the Constitution.
Serge Letchimy, president of the Executive Council of Martinique, hailed this as «a strong political signal» reflecting «recognition of Martinique’s right to develop, on its own, solutions tailored to its constraints, urgent needs, and ambitions.».
But the path to final enactment still lies with the Palais Bourbon.
Philippe Pied
