HB 5522 — AN ACT CONCERNING THE SEWAGE RIGHT-TO-KNOW ACT AND REQUIRING A REPORT CONCERNING WELL CONTAMINATION PROTOCOLS.

House of Representatives General Assembly FileSubstitute Bill No.

3975522 February Session, 2026 SubstituteAN HouseACT BillCONCERNING No.THE SEWAGE RIGHT-TO-KNOW ACT AND REQUIRING A REPORT CONCERNING WELL CONTAMINATION PROTOCOLS.

5522 House of Representatives, April 2, 2026 The Committee on Environment reported through REP.

PARKER of the 101st Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the House, that the substitute bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING THE SEWAGE RIGHT-TO-KNOW ACT AND REQUIRING A REPORT CONCERNING WELL CONTAMINATION PROTOCOLS.

(3) "Combined sewer" means structures which are designed to convey both sanitary and storm sewage, and allow the overflow of such combined sewage, untreated, to the waters of the state during periods sHB5522of /high Fileflows; No.

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397 of high flows;

(b)LCO On1 and after July 1, 2013, the Commissioner of Energy5 andSubstitute EnvironmentalBill ProtectionNo. shall post, on the department's Internet web site, a map of the state indicating where sewage spills, anticipated combined sewer overflows and permitted sewage bypasses occur.

5522 (b) On and after July 1, 2013, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall post, on the department's Internet web site, a map of the state indicating where sewage spills, anticipated combined sewer overflows and permitted sewage bypasses occur.

Such report shall be updated by the operator on a daily basis for each sHB5522additional /day Filethat No.the sewage spill or permitted sewage bypass continues after the submittal of the initial report and until such time as the sewage spill or permitted sewage bypass ceases.

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397 additional day that the sewage spill or permitted sewage bypass continues after the submittal of the initial report and until such time as the sewage spill or permitted sewage bypass ceases.

(3)LCO On2 and after July 1, 2018, not later than two hours after becoming aware of any5 sewageSubstitute spillBill orNo. permitted sewage bypass that reaches a water body or may come in contact with the general public, the operator of a sewage treatment plant or collection system shall notify the chief elected official, or such official's designee, and the local public health official of the municipality where the sewage spill or permitted sewage bypass occurred and the chief elected official, or such official's designee, and the local public health official of any municipality that may be potentially impacted downstream by such spill or sewage bypass.

5522 (3) On and after July 1, 2018, not later than two hours after becoming aware of any sewage spill or permitted sewage bypass that reaches a water body or may come in contact with the general public, the operator of a sewage treatment plant or collection system shall notify the chief elected official, or such official's designee, and the local public health official of the municipality where the sewage spill or permitted sewage bypass occurred and the chief elected official, or such official's designee, and the local public health official of any municipality that may be potentially impacted downstream by such spill or sewage bypass.

Such real-time public notifications shall occur not later than two hours after said department's receipt of sHB5522any /such Filereport. No.

397(5) Not later than February 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection shall publish and make publicly available on the department's Internet web site an annual LCO 3 sHB5522of File5 Substitute Bill No.

3975522 reportthatincludesasummaryofthesewage spillsthatoccurredwithin each municipality during such year, a summary of sewage spills that reached named or identified water bodies, a summary of the total volume of each category of sewage spill and any enforcement actions taken by the department related to such report.sewage spills.

(5) Not later than February 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection shall publish and make publicly available on the department's Internet web site an annual reportthatincludesasummaryofthesewage spillsthatoccurredwithin each municipality during such year, a summary of sewage spills that reached named or identified water bodies, a summary of the total volume of each category of sewage spill and any enforcement actions taken by the department related to such sewage spills.

sHB5522This /act Fileshall No.take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:

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397 This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:

2 from passage New section ENVLCO Joint4 Favorableof Subst.5 Substitute Bill No.

sHB55225522 /ENV FileJoint No.Favorable Subst.

397APP 5Joint sHB5522Favorable FileLCO No.5 of 5

397 The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.

In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.

Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:

Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 27 $ FY 28 $ Department of Energy and GF - Cost 102,921 102,921 Environmental Protection State Comptroller - Fringe GF - Cost 38,860 38,860 Benefits Note:

GF=General Fund Municipal Impact:

None Explanation The bill requires the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to maintain and update a database and public notification system related to various sewage spills or permitted sewage bypass(discharge).Thiswillresultinacostto thestate ofapproximately $141,781 annually, beginning in FY 27.

The requirements in the bill will require an Environmental Analyst 2 to maintain and update the database as well as provide technical assistance for entities reporting spills.

It is estimated that DEEP receives approximately 1,000 reports that will require entry into the public notification system.

The Environmental Analyst 2 position results in a cost of approximately $92,921 with corresponding fringe benefits of $38,860.

Additionally, DEEP will require $10,000 annually for setup, licensing, andequipment to supporttheindependent publicnotification system.

The fringe benefit costs for most state employees are budgeted centrally in accounts administered by the Comptroller.

The estimated active employee fringe benefit cost associated with most personnel changes is 41.82% of payroll in FY 27.

sHB5522 / File No.

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