EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*sb0096*
SENATE BILL 96
M3 5lr0706
(PRE–FILED) CF HB 277
By: Senator Brooks
Requested: August 23, 2024
Introduced and read first time: January 8, 2025
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: March 14, 2025
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Environment – Water Bottle Filling Stations – Requirement 2
FOR the purpose of requiring that a water bottle filling station be installed in certain new 3
construction or as part of certain renovations beginning on a certain date, subject to 4
certain exceptions; requiring the Maryland Department of Labor to adopt 5
regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act; and generally relating to water 6
bottle filling stations. 7
BY adding to 8
Article – Environment 9
Section 9–2701 through 9–2703 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 27. Water 10
Bottle Filling Stations” 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2014 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 13
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 14
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 15
Article – Environment 16
SUBTITLE 27. WATER BOTTLE FILLING STATIONS. 17
9–2701. 18
2 SENATE BILL 96
IN THIS SUBTITLE: 1
(1) “WATER BOTTLE FILLING STATION” MEANS A PLUMBING FIX TURE 2
CONNECTED TO THE POT ABLE WATER DISTRIBUT ION SYSTEM AND SANIT ARY 3
DRAINAGE SYSTEM THAT IS DESIGNED AND INTE NDED FOR FILLING PER SONAL USE 4
WATER BOTTLES OR CON TAINERS AT LEAST 10 INCHES IN HEIGHT; AND 5
(2) “WATER BOTTLE FILLING STATION” INCLUDES: 6
(I) A STATION THAT IS SEPA RATE FROM OR INTEGRA L TO A 7
DRINKING FOUNTAIN ; AND 8
(II) A FOR AN INTERIOR LOCAT ION OF A BUILDING , A STATION 9
THAT INCORPORATES A WATER FILTER AND COO LING SYSTEM F OR CHILLING THE 10
WATER. 11
9–2702. 12
(A) BEGINNING EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS 13
SECTION, BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2025, A AT LEAST ONE WATER BOTTLE FILLING 14
STATION OR A COMBINE D WATER BOTTLE FILLI NG STATION AND DRINK ING 15
FOUNTAIN SHALL : 16
(1) BE INSTALLED IN ALL N EW CONSTRUCTION FOR EACH AT EACH 17
LOCATION WHERE A DRINKING FOUNTAIN IS REQUIRED UNDER THE C URRENT 18
VERSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL PLUMBING CODE ADOPTED BY THE STATE OR 19
STATE OR LOCAL LAW OR REGULATION ; 20
(2) REPLACE A DRINKING FO UNTAIN LOCATED IN AN AREA OF A 21
BUILDING UNDERGOING A RENOVATION IF THE RENOVATION INCLUDES REPLACING 22
THE DRINKING FOUNTAI N; AND 23
(3) BE INSTALLED IN ANY B UILDING UNDERGOING A RENOVATION IF 24
THE INSTALLATION OF A DRINKING FOUNTAIN IS REQUIRED UNDER TH E CURRENT 25
VERSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL PLUMBING CODE ADOPTED BY THE STATE OR 26
STATE OR LOCAL LAW OR REGULATION . 27
(B) THE PROVISIONS OF SUB SECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION DO N OT APPLY 28
IF: 29
(1) A DRINKING FOUNTAIN IN A BUILDING LOCATED I N A 30
COMMERCIAL OR INDUST RIAL AREA IS REPLACED WITH NO OTH ER RENOVATIONS 31
MADE; OR 32
SENATE BILL 96 3
(2) A BUILDING LOCATED IN A COMMERCIAL OR INDU STRIAL AREA 1
HAS POTABLE WATER AV AILABLE THROUGH A SO URCE OTHER THAN A DR INKING 2
FOUNTAIN, INCLUDING A KITCHEN . 3
9–2703. 4
THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF LABOR SHALL ADOPT REGULATIONS TO 5
CARRY OUT THE PROVIS IONS OF THIS SUBTITL E. 6
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall be construed to 7
apply only prospectively and may not be applied or interpreted to have any effect on or 8
application to any new construction under contract before the effective date of this Act. 9
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 10
1, 2025. 11
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.