Madison – Yesterday, the Assembly Environment Committee held a public hearing and considered AB 635, the Water Quality Notification Act. Representative Billings introduced this legislation and released the following statement.
“I was proud to testify in favor of the Water Quality Notification Act because everyone in Wisconsin deserves to know whether the water that they and their families are drinking is safe. This was a productive public hearing and I am grateful to all of the testifiers, the support of more than 60 members of the Assembly and Senate who have signed on to this bill as cosponsors, and my co-authors, Representative Novak and Senator James. This is common sense legislation that will help keep Wisconsinites safe from contaminated water that could threaten their health.”
“This bill would require that the DNR notify county and tribal health departments about an exceedance in groundwater quality standards, including PFAS standards. This will help local governments protect their residents from harmful water contaminants. This will be particularly helpful for rural Wisconsinites, who often rely on private wells that do not benefit from the regular testing and notification requirements of municipal water systems. Families who receive information about issues with their water quality could receive support from local programs and assistance from state-level initiatives like the Well Compensation Grant Program.”
“This bill promotes transparent governance and has received bipartisan support because it is focused on protecting public health. This legislation now received positive public hearings in both the Assembly and the Senate. I will be working to push for committee votes so this bill can move forward for consideration by the full legislature.”
