MS HB1509

State Board of Education must adopt rules requiring newly constructed public schools and certain renovated schools to install water bottle filling stations.

New school buildings and renovation projects commencing after July 1, 2020 must include a minimum of two water bottle filling stations per building, one station per floor/wing, and one station per 100 projected students.

Water bottle filling stations must dispense filtered, clean drinking water, be regularly cleaned and maintained, and include cup dispensers if no drinking water fountain is on the same floor and wing.

Drinking water fountains must have protective cowls, waterspouts at least 1 inch above the overflow rim, dispense filtered water, and be regularly cleaned and maintained.

Requirements apply to renovation projects costing $100,000 or more, projects under $100,000 that include fountain installation, and schools where existing fountains are replaced or new fountains installed after July 1, 2020.