TRENTON, NJ – The New Jersey Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee has advanced a bill that mandates the disclosure of lead drinking water hazards in residential units.
The legislation, sponsored by Senator Linda Greenstein and Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz, aims to protect tenants by ensuring transparency regarding lead service lines and requiring water testing at the request of tenants.
Senator Greenstein highlighted the health risks posed by lead in drinking water, emphasizing potential complications such as memory issues and miscarriages. She stressed the importance of providing residents with information and allowing for the replacement of lead service lines to combat lead exposure.
Introduced as Bill S-1034, the legislation requires the Department of Health, in collaboration with the Department of Environmental Protection, to create a notice within six months.
This notice will inform consumers about the health risks of lead, prevention methods, and testing resources.
Landlords will be obligated to provide tenants with a “Lead in Drinking Water Disclosure,” which includes the health notice, property construction date, and information about lead service lines and any detected lead exceedance in the area, except for newer or unaffected properties.
