Bill
S 4195
Requires foreclosing banks to remove privately owned lead service lines on foreclosed properties before sale, reducing future lead exposure; utilities keep owned segments.
Status and procedural history
- Bill Number: S 4195 (Print 4195A)
- Introduced: March 3, 2025 (Senate) — Sponsor: Sen. Andrew Gounardes (primary)
- Committee actions: Referred to Senate Community & Urban Affairs Committee (3/3/2025); later recorded actions on 6/2/2025 include “Amend and Recommit to Transportation” and print number 4195A.
- Companion/related measures: A3305, A1440 (companions); prior-session bills A11140, A2472, S6718.
Note on bill title: The header in your document lists a different title (“inspections of mufflers and exhaust systems”), but the operative text of S.4195A addresses removal of lead water service lines from foreclosed properties. This summary reflects the bill text concerning lead service lines.
Purpose and intent
- To protect public health by removing privately owned lead water service lines from properties that have been foreclosed by financial institutions, thereby reducing a potential ongoing source of lead exposure (particularly for children).
Key provisions
- Financial institutions that know or have reason to know that a foreclosed property has lead water service lines must remove all lead water service lines on that property prior to selling or otherwise conveying the property.
- Exception: any portion of the water service line that is owned by, and the responsibility of, the appropriate utility service provider is not required to be removed by the financial institution.
- Effective date: the act would take effect immediately upon enactment and apply to properties on which financial institutions foreclose on or after that date.
Who would be affected
- Financial institutions (banks, mortgage servicers, other entities that foreclose) — responsible for identifying and removing privately owned lead service lines before disposition of foreclosed properties.
- Purchasers of foreclosed properties — could benefit from reduced lead risk and fewer remediation obligations.
- Utilities — remain responsible for the portions of service lines they own.
- Occupants and neighboring communities — potential public health benefits from reduced lead exposure in drinking water.
Implementation and enforcement notes
- The bill requires removal “prior to selling or otherwise conveying” but does not specify detailed procedures, timelines for completion, cost-sharing mechanisms, inspection standards, or penalties for noncompliance in the text provided.
- Practical implementation would likely require: inspection protocols to determine presence of lead service lines, coordination with utilities to identify ownership boundaries, payment of removal costs by the foreclosing institution, and mechanisms to verify completion before conveyance.
Potential impacts
- Public health: likely positive — reduces a recognized source of lead exposure in homes formerly in foreclosure.
- Financial and operational: increases costs and administrative burden on financial institutions managing REO (real estate owned) properties; could slow sales or raise prices to cover remediation costs.
- Market and municipal: potential implications for property values, local code compliance processes, and coordination with utility replacement programs.
Unanswered questions / implementation gaps
- Who bears the cost if ownership of the line (private vs. utility) is disputed?
- Are there timelines for completing removal after foreclosure?
- Are inspection and removal standards defined (e.g., certified contractors, disposal requirements)?
- Enforcement mechanisms and penalties for noncompliance are not specified in the provided text.
This bill establishes a clear responsibility for foreclosing financial institutions to remove privately owned lead water service lines before conveying foreclosed properties, prioritizing public-health protection but leaving several operational details to be resolved in implementation.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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