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Minnesota2026Passed Legislature

HF4224

Changes to Rules About Reporting Water Discharges

Last scannedAug 22, 2026, 3:39 AM

In one sentence

This law updates the rules on who must be told when water pollution happens, expands the list of people and groups that need notification, and allows faster ways to share warnings.

What it does

  • Requires anyone in control of a substance to immediately tell the state agency if it spills into state waters and could cause pollution.
  • Removes the requirement for immediate notice only when five gallons or less of petroleum is spilled.
  • Expands who must be notified after a spill from just drinking water facilities to include downstream users, the public, Tribal governments, and impacted drinking water facilities.
  • Allows facility owners to use fast communication methods like social media, radio, phone calls, websites, or in-person contact to share warnings.
  • Requires posting signs in affected public areas within the same jurisdiction or telling local officials about the discharge.
  • Mandates that notices must list when the spill happened, what was released, health risks, and contact details.

Who it affects

  • Owners of publicly owned treatment works
  • Owners of domestic sewer systems (public or private)
  • The state agency responsible for water pollution guidance
  • Downstream users, the public, Tribal governments, and drinking water facilities

Limits and unknowns

  • The law does not specify an exact effective date in this text.
  • The specific methods for posting signs depend on local jurisdiction rules.
  • The state agency must create guidance, but the details of that guidance are not included here.

Plain language

Terms to know

Publicly owned treatment works
A facility that treats wastewater or sewage and is owned by a government entity.
Downstream users
People, communities, or facilities located further along the water flow where pollution could travel.

Official record

Sources

Validated
Official bill pageIntroduced textOfficial digestCurrent bill textStored full record

Official summary

Notice requirements for water discharges modified.

Official activity

Bill history

  1. Presented to Governor 05/06/2026House
  2. Presentment date 05/06/26Senate
  3. Returned from SenateHouse
  4. Special OrderSenate
  5. Comm report: Subst. for SF on General Orders SF4525Senate
  6. Received from HouseSenate
  7. Third readingHouse
  8. House rule 1.21, placed on Calendar for the Day 04/27/2026House
  9. Committee report, to adoptHouse
  10. Introduction and first reading, referred to Environment and Natural Resources Finance and PolicyHouse