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Bill Summary · SB 144

SB 144 — Requirements for Operating Public Cold Baths (Summary)

Status: Passed 1st Reading
Introduced: January 23, 2025
Primary change proposed: Amend G.S. 130A‑280 (public swimming pool law) to exempt certain “public cold baths” from the public‑pool regulatory regime if they meet specified safety and sanitation requirements. If enacted, the bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Main purpose

To clarify that small, single‑occupant chilled‑water tubs used by the public (commonly called cold baths or cold plunges) are not subject to the State’s public swimming‑pool rules — provided they meet narrow size, temperature, depth and sanitation criteria. The intent is to remove an unintended regulatory burden on businesses offering individual cold‑bath services while retaining public‑health safeguards.

Key provisions / changes

  • Amends G.S. 130A‑280 (Scope and definitions) to add an explicit exemption for a “public cold bath” that meets all of the following:
    • Is a tub or tank used by the general public, one bather at a time (fee allowed).
    • Contains chilled water that is:
    • Maintained at a temperature lower than 60°F;
    • No more than 180 gallons in total volume;
    • At a depth that allows the bather to keep their head above water while seated.
    • Continuously filters and sanitizes the chilled water.
  • Retains existing exemptions (e.g., private single‑family pools, certain therapeutic pools) and clarifies definitions (public swimming pool, artificial swimming lagoon).
  • Places the new exemption as subdivision (2a) in the statute’s list of exclusions.

Who would be affected

  • Directly: operators of cold‑bath facilities (wellness spas, cryotherapy/contrast therapy providers, gyms and boutique studios) that offer single‑person cold plunges.
  • Indirectly: local health departments and state regulators (who will apply the clarified statute), and patrons of cold‑bath services.
  • Facilities that do not meet the specific criteria (larger volume, multi‑user baths, deeper pools, or lacking continuous sanitation) would remain regulated under existing public swimming‑pool rules.

Public‑health and operational implications

  • Safety measures in the exemption focus on limiting exposure (single bather, shallow depth) and on water quality (continuous filtration and sanitization) to mitigate infection and injury risks.
  • The statutory criteria do not remove all oversight — operators would still be expected to implement the specified sanitation and filtration practices; local enforcement/inspection authority may remain relevant.
  • The exemption reduces compliance costs for small operators that meet the criteria, while maintaining baseline protections.

Procedural & timeline notes

  • Introduced Jan 23, 2025; recorded in bill files (DRS) Feb 24, 2025; the draft shows a proposed effective date of July 1, 2025 if enacted.
  • Current status (per provided bill information): Passed 1st Reading. Further committee review and legislative votes are required before it becomes law.

Fiscal impact

  • No direct fiscal estimates provided in the bill text. Likely minimal state fiscal effect — potential modest reduction in permitting/inspection workload for small cold‑bath units that become exempt; any enforcement or guidance costs are expected to be limited and handled within existing public‑health resources.

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

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