Bill > HB1054

This bill, titled the "Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 2026," aims to protect individuals in Georgia from exposure to chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity. It prohibits businesses from knowingly discharging such chemicals into water sources that could become drinking water or from exposing individuals to these chemicals without providing a clear and reasonable warning. The bill defines key terms like "reproductive toxicity" (harm to fertility or offspring development) and "person in the course of doing business" (excluding small businesses with fewer than ten employees and government entities). It outlines that the Governor will publish lists of these hazardous chemicals, and the Attorney General, along with district attorneys and private citizens under specific conditions, can seek legal action, including injunctions and civil penalties of up to $2,500 per day for violations. A portion of these penalties will fund the "Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Fund," which will be used to implement and administer the act, with the remainder going to the prosecuting office or the private party who brought the action. The bill also includes provisions for exceptions, such as when federal law preempts state warnings or when exposure poses no significant risk, and sets a contingent effective date of January 1, 2027, dependent on the adoption of a constitutional amendment to authorize the fund.

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https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72391