Senate committee advances bill to make correctional facility water test results public, citing PFAS concerns

The Senate Standing Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction advanced S 63-90, a bill that would require the commissioner of corrections and community supervision to make correctional facility water testing results accessible to incarcerated individuals, facility staff and the public.

During committee discussion, Senator Harcombe framed the bill in the context of PFAS and other emerging contaminants, saying the issue affects both people inside facilities and the broader public because the facilities share water systems. "Not only is it vital that folks who are incarcerated and worked in facilities, it's also important for the public because it's the same water system... it's a public health bill," the senator said. Julia Feder, the committee clerk, read the bill title before the motion.

Senator Murray moved the bill and Senator Bailey seconded; the committee voted to report the bill (the clerk recorded the motion and outcome). Committee discussion emphasized transparency of testing results and the public-health rationale for sharing those results with incarcerated people, staff and outside communities served by the same water systems.

Next steps: The bill was reported out of committee for further review (finance or subsequent committee steps as appropriate). The transcript records the committee's support for transparency around water testing, and no amendments were recorded during the session.