HB 815: Require rules on drinking water contaminants, water quality
<p>The bill requires the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency director to establish maximum contaminant levels and water quality standards for specific contaminants in drinking water. These include per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), chromium-6, and 1,4 dioxane. The director must consider existing state regulations, scientific studies, and federal guidelines when setting these standards. Additionally, the bill mandates annual reviews of these rules to incorporate recent scientific findings.</p>
| May. 13, 2026 | Referred to committee: Natural Resources |
| Apr. 13, 2026 | Introduced |
Document URL: View PDF
Document Type: Legislative Bill
Session: 136th General Assembly Regular Session
Bill Number: H. B. No. 815
Year: 2025-2026
As Introduced
136th General Assembly
Regular Session
H. B. No. 815
2025-2026
Representatives Russo, Rader
Cosponsors: Representatives Piccolantonio, Brownlee, McNally, Miller, J.
To amend section 6111.041 and to enact section 16109.26 of the Revised Code to require the Director of Environmental Protection to adopt rules establishing maximum allowable contaminant levels in drinking water and water quality standards for certain contaminants.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1.
That section 6111.041 be amended and section 6109.26 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec. 6109.26.
(A) As used in this section:
(B) (1) The director of environmental protection shall adopt, and may amend and rescind, rules under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code establishing a maximum contaminant level for all of the following drinking water contaminants:
(2) When adopting rules under this section, the director shall consider all of the following:
(3) The director shall ensure that rules establishing MCLs under this section are both of the following:
(C) The director shall annually review rules adopted under this section and shall adopt, amend, or rescind any rules necessary to account for the most recent peer-reviewed scientific studies addressing the contaminants listed in division (B) (1) of this section.
(D) Division (F) of section 121.95 of the Revised Code does not apply to rules adopted under this section.
Sec. 6111.041.
(A) As used in this section, "PFAS" has the same meaning as in section 6109.26 of the Revised Code.
(B) (1) In furtherance of sections 6111.01 to 6111.08 of the Revised Code, the director of environmental protection shall adopt standards of rules establishing water quality to be applicable to standards for the waters of the state. Such standards shall be adopted pursuant to a schedule established, and from time to time amended, by the director, to apply to the various waters of the state, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. Such standards shall be adopted in accordance with section 303 of the "Federal Water Pollution Control Act" and shall be designed to improve The director shall adopt the rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code and section 303 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. In adopting the rules, the director shall ensure that the rules are designed to do both of the following:
Such standards may be amended from time to time as determined by the director. Prior to
(2) Subject to division (D) (4) of this section, the director shall establish the standards according to an established schedule, however, the director may review and amend the standards from time to time as determined by the director.
(C) Before establishing, amending, or repealing standards of water quality standards under this section, the director shall, after due notice, conduct public hearings thereon. Notice of hearings shall specify the waters to which the standards relate, and the time, date, and place of hearing.
Standards of quality for the waters of the state (D) (1) In addition to standards established under this section for any other contaminants, the director shall include in the rules adopted under this section water quality standards for all of the following contaminants:
(2) In adopting water quality standards for the contaminants listed in division (D) (1) of this section, the director shall consider all of the following:
(3) The director shall ensure that the water quality standards established for contaminants listed in division (D) (1) of this section are both of the following:
(4) The director shall annually review water quality standards for the contaminants listed in division (D) (1) of this section and shall adopt, amend, or rescind them as necessary to account for the most recent peer-reviewed scientific studies addressing the contaminants.
(E) Water quality standards established under this section, or any amendment or repeal thereof, become effective upon adoption by the director. The director shall implement the water quality standards so-established in the issuance, revocation, modification, or denial of permits.
(F) Division (F) of section 121.95 of the Revised Code does not apply to any rules adopted under this section.
Section 2. That existing section 6111.041 of the Revised Code is hereby repealed.
H. B. No. 815 Page 6
As Introduced