North Carolina 2025 Session Status: In Committee 6 D cosponsors

SB 653 — Polluter Pays.

Last action — Passed 1st Reading

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced March 25, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Prognosis

Stalled 26% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 6 sponsors

    2 primary, 4 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (6 D).

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

15 added · 16 removed

Plain-language change summary

The latest version of Senate Bill 653 includes additional provisions regarding public health and safety measures related to water supply connections. Notably, the bill now clarifies the authority of the Secretary of the Department to issue orders for individuals to comply with established standards concerning water supply. These changes matter because they enhance regulatory oversight and ensure that the state can effectively address public health concerns associated with water supply issues.

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FILED SENATE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA Mar 25, 2025 S.B.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2025 S 1 SENATE BILL 653 Short Title:
653 SESSION 2025 PRINCIPAL CLERK S D SENATE BILL DRS45327-MH-64 Short Title:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO MAKE PERSONS CAUSING OR CONTRIBUTING TO CONTAMINATION RESPONSIBLE FOR COSTS OF CLEANUP AND PROVISION OF ALTERNATIVE WATER SUPPLIES TO PERSONS WITH WATER SUPPLIES AFFECTED BY SUCH CONTAMINATION.
Rules and Operations of the Senate March 26, 2025 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO MAKE PERSONS CAUSING OR CONTRIBUTING TO CONTAMINATION RESPONSIBLE FOR COSTS OF CLEANUP AND PROVISION OF ALTERNATIVE WATER SUPPLIES TO PERSONS WITH WATER SUPPLIES AFFECTED BY SUCH CONTAMINATION.
If the violation resulted in an unauthorized discharge to the waters or atmosphere of the State, the Commission may also assess the person responsible for the violation for any actual and necessary costs incurred by the State in removing, correcting or abating any adverse effects upon the water or air resulting from the unauthorized discharge.
If the violation resulted in an unauthorized discharge to the waters or atmosphere of the State, the Commission may also assess the person responsible for the violation for any actual and necessary costs incurred bythe State in removing, correcting or abating any adverse effects upon the water or air resulting from the unauthorized discharge.
Regardless of any other provisions of law, if the Department finds that such a condition of water or air pollution exists and that it creates an emergency requiring immediate action to protect the public health and safety or to protect fish and wildlife, the Secretary of the Department with the *DRS45327-MH-64* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 concurrence of the Governor, shall order persons causing or contributing to the water or air pollution in question to reduce or discontinue immediately the emission of air contaminants or the discharge of wastes.
Regardless of any other provisions of law, if the Department finds that such a condition of water or air pollution exists and that it creates an emergency requiring immediate action to protect the public health and safety or to protect fish and wildlife, the Secretary of the Department with the *S653-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 concurrence of the Governor, shall order persons causing or contributing to the water or air pollution in question to reduce or discontinue immediately the emission of air contaminants or the discharge of wastes.
(12a) If an investigation conducted pursuant to this Article or Article 21B of this Chapter reveals a condition of water or air pollution which is causing danger to thehealth orsafety ofthepublic,theSecretaryoftheDepartment may order persons causing or contributing to the water or air pollution in question to immediately reduce or discontinue the emissions of air contaminants or the discharge of wastes or to take such other measures as are necessary, in the Secretary's judgment, without regard to any other provisions of this Article or Article 21B of this Chapter.
(12a) If an investigation conducted pursuant to this Article or Article 21B of this Chapter reveals a condition of water or air pollution which is causing danger to thehealth orsafetyofthepublic,theSecretaryoftheDepartment mayorder persons causing or contributing to the water or air pollution in question to immediately reduce or discontinue the emissions of air contaminants or the discharge of wastes or to take such other measures as are necessary, in the Secretary's judgment, without regard to any other provisions of this Article or Article 21B of this Chapter.
The order may direct the person to take, or refrain from taking, an action, or to achieve a result, within a period of time specified bytheorder,astheSecretarydeemsnecessaryandfeasibleinordertoalleviate or eliminate the pollution.
The order maydirect the person to take, or refrain from taking, an action, or to achieve a result, within a period of time specified bytheorder,astheSecretarydeemsnecessaryandfeasibleinordertoalleviate or eliminate the pollution.
In the case of a permanent replacement water supply, the water supply shall be established by connection to a public water supply, except that an affected household may elect to receive a whole house filtration system in lieu of a connection to a public water supply, in which case the person responsibleshall install a filtrationsystem.
In the case of a permanent replacement water supply, the water supplyshall be established byconnection to a public water supply, except that an affected household may elect to receive a whole house filtration system in lieu of a connection to a public water supply, in which case the person responsibleshall install a filtrationsystem.
Page 2 DRS45327-MH-64 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 …." SECTION 1.(b) G.S.
Page 2 Senate Bill 653-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 …." SECTION 1.(b) G.S.
143-215, or a water supply watershed management requirement adopted pursuant to G.S.
143-215, or a water supplywatershed management requirement adopted pursuant to G.S.
The order or instrument may direct the person to take, or refrain from taking an action, or to achieve a result, within a period of time specified by the special order, as the Commission deems necessary and feasible in order to alleviate or eliminate the pollution.
The order or instrument maydirect the person to take, or refrain from taking an action, or to achieve a result, within a period of time specified by the special order, as the Commission deems necessary and feasible in order to alleviate or eliminate the pollution.
DRS45327-MH-64 Page 3
Senate Bill 653-First Edition Page 3
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Action History

  1. Passed 1st Reading

  2. Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate

  3. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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2 sponsors · 4 co-sponsors · 173 not signed on

Sponsors (2)

Co-sponsors (4)

Not signed on (173)

173 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 173 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety environment
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 653?
SB 653 is sponsored by Joyce Waddell (Democratic), Natalie S. Murdock (Democratic), Sophia Chitlik (Democratic), Julie Mayfield (Democratic), Michael Garrett (Democratic), and Graig Meyer (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 653?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced March 25, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 653?
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