The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Maryland Senate Bill 264 Sets Drinking Water Standards and Legionella Prevention Rules
Last action · January 23, 2026: Hearing 2/10 at 1:00 p.m.Sponsor: Ben Brooks
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
What This Bill Would Do
Maryland Senate Bill 264 establishes strict minimum requirements for public water systems, mandates public notices and state reporting for water distribution disruptions, and requires building owners to implement Legionella water management programs by October 1, 2027. The measure takes effect October 1, 2026.
Public water suppliers and operators of large buildings must upgrade testing, maintenance, and notification procedures to prevent waterborne disease outbreaks, backed by civil penalties of up to $5,000 per day for non-compliance.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
suppliers of water
Suppliers of water must maintain minimum disinfectant residual levels, conduct frequent testing, provide disruption notices to customers and the state, and face civil penalties for non-compliance.
owners or operators of covered buildings
Owners or operators of buildings meeting ASHRAE Standard 188-2018 must implement a water management program and make it available to inspectors by October 1, 2027.
residential, commercial, and institutional customers
Customers receive timely written notices regarding water distribution disruptions and instructions on reducing exposure to Legionella bacteria.
Key Facts
- Suppliers of water must maintain a detectable disinfectant residual level of at least 0.5 milligrams of free chlorine per liter or 1.0 milligrams of monochloramine per liter in all active parts of the system by January 1, 2026.
- Suppliers of water must provide timely written notice to affected customers regarding any water distribution disruption that could increase Legionella levels.
- Suppliers of water must provide a written record of any water distribution system disruption to the Department of the Environment within 24 hours.
- The Maryland Department of Health must conduct comprehensive investigations and fixture sampling for each reported diagnosis of Legionnaires' disease.
Show all 8 facts
- Owners or operators of buildings covered under ASHRAE Standard 188-2018 must implement a water management program to minimize Legionella by October 1, 2027.
- Willful violations of the new Part III requirements are subject to civil penalties of up to $5,000 for each day a violation exists, payable to a special fund in the Maryland Department of Health.
- The Department of the Environment and the Maryland Department of Health must report annually to the Governor and General Assembly beginning October 1, 2027, on Legionnaires' disease cases, penalties assessed, and legislative recommendations.
- The Maryland Department of Health must develop a public awareness campaign and targeted consumer education program regarding Legionella prevention by January 1, 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
What disinfectant residual levels must water suppliers maintain?
Who must implement a water management program for Legionella?
What happens if a water supplier fails to maintain required disinfectant levels?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently filed. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Committee.
Procedural history
2 actions- Jan 23, 2026SenateHearing 2/10 at 1:00 p.m.
- Jan 19, 2026SenateIntroducedFirst Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Creation of Dedicated Health Department Fund for Waterborne Disease Penalties
Penalties collected under the new Part III are diverted from the general Clean Water Fund into a dedicated special fund within the Maryland Department of Health.
Connected Entities
Sources
mgaleg.maryland.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance80How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy25Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools