Bill > HB543

This bill requires all child care learning centers and schools in Georgia to test their drinking water outlets for lead contamination by July 1, 2026, defining lead contamination as a concentration of five parts per billion or greater. Centers and schools that identify lead contamination must develop and implement a remediation plan, provide written notification to parents, guardians, and staff, post test results publicly, submit results to the Department of Public Health, and provide an alternative drinking water source that is lead-free. The Department of Public Health, in collaboration with other state agencies, will establish specific testing and remediation guidelines by January 1, 2026. The bill also authorizes the Department of Education to provide grants to help centers and schools comply with testing requirements, though this is subject to available funding. Public water systems already regulated under federal guidelines are exempt from these requirements, and the testing mandates cannot be waived by strategic waivers school systems, local boards of education, charter systems, or individual charter schools. The overall goal is to ensure safe drinking water in educational settings by proactively identifying and addressing potential lead contamination.

Education

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70580