SB 466
Drinking water: primary standard for hexavalent chromium: exemption.
Vote required
Majority
Fiscal committee
No
Appropriation
No
Current location
Chaptered
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Sign in to take action- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill clarifies the enforcement of hexavalent chromium standards in California’s drinking water. It prevents public water systems that are working to meet the existing total chromium maximum contaminant level (MCL) from being penalized for not yet complying with the specific hexavalent chromium primary drinking water standard. The bill applies only to systems meeting the total chromium MCL and ensures compliance plans are not considered violations while awaiting state board approval. It does not change the overall requirements for establishing drinking water standards.
Key provisions
- Public water systems meeting the total chromium MCL are exempt from hexavalent chromium primary drinking water standard violations during compliance plan implementation.
- The exemption applies while the state board reviews and approves submitted compliance plans.
- The bill specifically addresses hexavalent chromium and does not affect standards for other contaminants.
- A rejected hexavalent chromium MCL compliance plan removes the exemption.
- The bill does not impact the state’s authority to enforce regulations related to hexavalent chromium.
Who is affected
- Public water systems in California
- The State Water Resources Control Board
- Residents of California who receive drinking water from public systems
Notable changes
- Provides a temporary exemption during compliance plan review for systems meeting the total chromium MCL.
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SB466:v91#DOCUMENT
Bill Start
Senate Bill No. 466
CHAPTER 320
An act to add Section 116341 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to drinking water.
[ Approved by Governor October 03, 2025. Filed with Secretary of State October 03, 2025. ]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 466, Caballero. Drinking water: primary standard for hexavalent chromium: exemption.
The California Safe Drinking Water Act provides for the operation of public water systems and imposes on the State Water Resources Control Board various duties and responsibilities for the regulation and control of drinking water in the State of California. The act requires the state board to adopt primary drinking water standards for contaminants in drinking water based upon specified criteria, and requires a primary drinking water standard to be established for hexavalent chromium. Existing law authorizes the state board to grant a variance from primary drinking water standards to a public water system.
This bill would prohibit a public water system that meets the total chromium maximum contaminant level (MCL) enforceable standard for drinking water in California from being determined, held, considered, or otherwise deemed in violation of the primary drinking water standard for hexavalent chromium while implementing a state board approved compliance plan or while state board action on the proposed and submitted compliance plan is pending, except as provided.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO
Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 116341 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:
116341.
(a) Except as provided in subdivision (e) and subject to subdivision (b), a public water system shall not be determined, held, considered, or otherwise deemed in violation of the primary drinking water standard for hexavalent chromium while implementing a state board approved compliance plan. A public water system that has submitted a compliance plan for approval shall not be determined, held, considered, or otherwise deemed in violation of the primary drinking water standard for hexavalent chromium while state board action on the proposed and submitted compliance plan is pending.
(b) This section only applies to a public water system that meets the total chromium maximum contaminant level (MCL) enforceable standard for drinking water in California.
(c) This section does not affect the state’s requirements for establishing drinking water standards for contaminants in drinking water. This section does not apply to any contaminants other than hexavalent chromium.
(d) This section shall not apply if a hexavalent chromium MCL compliance plan is rejected by the state board.
(e) This section does not affect the authority of the state board or the Attorney General to enforce any applicable law or regulation regarding hexavalent chromium, including a state board-approved hexavalent chromium MCL compliance plan.