House requires public facilities to meet same water-discharge standards as private operators

The House passed substitute House Bill 23-43, directing that publicly operated facilities that raise game comply with the same water-discharge guidelines required of private operations. Sponsors framed the measure as addressing localized contamination and ensuring public agencies are held to the same standards as private entities.

Representative Barno described a Centralia-area issue involving a state-run game farm and elevated nitrates in groundwater, saying the contamination had forced dozens of households to use whole-home filtration systems. Barno said, “This is an important piece of legislation,” and argued that public facilities should not be carved out from environmental obligations.

Representative Orcutt said the bill is designed to prevent future contamination and cited local meetings and concerns that preceded the legislative proposal. Representative Reeves also supported the bill, urging members to hold government entities as accountable as private sector partners.

On final passage the clerk announced 97 yays, 0 nays, 1 excused and the speaker declared the bill passed. Supporters said the bill will help prevent harm to drinking-water sources and reduce long-term public cost should contamination reach critical water supplies.