Senate Bill 495: 2023 Safe Drinking Water Act

• Commission for Public Health must commence rulemaking by October 15, 2023 to establish maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for probable or known carcinogens and toxic chemicals, including PFAS, PFOA, PFOS, hexavalent chromium, and 1,4-Dioxane.

• Commission shall consider establishing MCLs for any other contaminants for which at least two other states have set MCLs or issued guidance.

• MCLs must be protective of vulnerable populations including pregnant and nursing mothers, infants, and children, and shall not exceed any MCL or health advisory established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

• Commission for Public Health shall conduct annual reviews of peer-reviewed science and government agency studies to establish or revise MCLs for contaminants posing substantial public health threats.

• $6,000,000 in recurring General Fund appropriations allocated to the Department of Health and Human Services for the 2023-2024 fiscal year, with authorization to establish up to 37 FTE positions; act becomes effective July 1, 2023.