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SB 264

Drinking Water - Regulation - Control and Prevention of Waterborne Disease

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Ben Brooks

SB 264 strengthens Maryland drinking water regulations to prevent waterborne disease through enhanced quality standards and contamination control measures.

Hearing 2/10 at 1:00 p.m.
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Bill Summary · SB 264

Legislative bill overview

SB 264 strengthens Maryland's drinking water regulations to enhance control and prevention of waterborne diseases. The bill appears to establish or modify regulatory frameworks governing water quality standards, testing requirements, and contamination prevention measures for public water systems across the state.

Why is this important

Waterborne diseases affect public health directly and can cause outbreaks affecting thousands of residents. Strengthened regulations ensure water utilities maintain adequate safety standards and respond promptly to contamination threats, protecting vulnerable populations including children, elderly residents, and immunocompromised individuals.

Potential points of contention

  • Compliance costs: Water utilities may face significant expenses upgrading infrastructure and testing protocols, which could increase consumer water bills
  • Regulatory scope and flexibility: Debate over whether standards should be uniform statewide or allow local variation based on existing water system capabilities
  • Implementation timeline: Questions about whether utilities have sufficient time and resources to meet new requirements without service disruptions

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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