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SB 269 West Virginia Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Modifying requirements for public water systems or businesses having backflow preventers

SB 269 modifies West Virginia's requirements for backflow preventers used in public water systems and businesses. It creates two classifications: low-hazard systems (causing only aesthetic issues or minor water quality effects) must be inspected no more frequently than every three years, while high-hazard systems (posing health risks from disease or harmful substances) must be inspected annually. This bill directly affects public water utilities and businesses that install or maintain backflow preventers. The key change is standardizing inspection frequencies based on risk level, as specified in amended sections §16-1-4 and §16-1-9a of the West Virginia Code.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Feb 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 12, 2025 Last action Feb 24, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Version → Committee Substitute · 6 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended from an Introduced Version to a Committee Substitute version, which significantly expanded the scope of public water system regulations. The key change is the introduction of a new section (§16-1-9a) that establishes a regulatory framework for public water systems, including the creation of two classifications for backflow prevention assemblies (low-hazard and high-hazard) with different inspection frequency requirements. The bill also adds specific funding mechanisms for local health departments and clarifies the Secretary's authority over water system inspections and enforcement.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from primarily prohibiting backflow preventer requirements to actively regulating public water systems through new inspection requirements, hazard classifications, and enforcement mechanisms.
REQUIREMENT

New section §16-1-9a establishes comprehensive regulation of public water systems, including requirements for backflow prevention assemblies, sampling, testing, and system operation.

Added requirements for public water systems to report water advisories within six hours and to provide text or voice alert mass notification systems.

DEFINITION

Created two classifications for backflow prevention assemblies: low-hazard systems (requiring inspection no more frequently than once every three years) and high-hazard systems (requiring annual inspection).

FISCAL

Added provisions for an emergency fund of up to two percent of total annual funds for local health departments, with unused amounts returned to local boards of health.

ENFORCEMENT

Introduced civil penalty provisions ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 for violations, with willful violations capped at $10,000, and established the Safe Drinking Water Fund for technical assistance.

TECHNICAL

Added new subsection (b) to §16-1-4 limiting the Secretary's review of public pool facility repairs or modernization to $25,000 or less without changing scope or use.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 21, 2025

How they voted

31–0
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 33
Feb 21, 2025
D Democratic2
2 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican31
29 Yea 2
93% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
15
Key actions
2
Committee
3
Feb 24, 2025
Committee
To House Energy and Public Works
lower
Feb 24, 2025
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
Feb 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (Roll No. 17)
upper
Feb 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee substitute reported
upper
Feb 12, 2025
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
Feb 12, 2025
Committee
To Government Organization
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.