Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Bill would require bottle‑filling stations at new state‑required water fountain installations and certain renovations
Loading...
Summary
House Bill 277 would require water bottle‑filling stations at locations where the International Plumbing Code already requires water fountains for state buildings and, in some renovations, to encourage refillable bottle use and reduce single‑use plastics.
Delegate (last name Layman? transcript shows sponsor as Delegate Ruth) presented House Bill 277 as a low‑barrier measure to reduce single‑use plastic bottle waste by requiring the installation of water bottle‑filling stations where the International Plumbing Code requires a water fountain for state buildings and some renovations. The sponsor said the bill “does not ban plastic water bottles” but instead requires that new installations of mandated drinking‑fountain fixtures include a bottle‑filling feature or a combination unit.
Architects and health advocates testified in support. Chris Parts of AIA Maryland said the measure “is simply sensible legislation that accelerates the slow change of 1 issue in the plumbing code from being allowed to being required,” noting the accessibility and convenience benefits of filling stations. Laura Hale of the American Heart Association said bottle‑filling stations can filter lead and encourage drinking water among children and adults.
The sponsor addressed a fiscal‑note concern from the University of Maryland about replacing many older water fountains; she said the bill would not require wholesale replacement of existing fixtures unless tied to a covered renovation. The sponsor also said the committee could clarify that temporary freestanding water dispensers are not intended substitutes; the bill’s intent was permanent, plumbed fixtures.
Witnesses from the Maryland Recycling Network supported the bill as waste‑reduction policy. No committee vote was recorded at the hearing.
