SB-724 • 2026

Public housing: lead testing.

Education Housing

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Richardson
Last action: 2025-08-29
Official status: August 29 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide specific details on the implementation timeline or funding requirements for local governments.

Lead Testing in Public Housing Water Systems

This law requires public water systems serving public housing units owned or managed by local government agencies to inform residents about free lead testing programs.

What This Bill Does

Requires public water systems, including community and non-community systems, to provide information on existing free lead testing programs for the water used in public housing units.

Who It Names or Affects

Public water system providers
Residents of public housing units owned or managed by local government agencies

Terms To Know

public housing unit: A residential property that is owned or managed by a city, county, or housing authority and provided to low-income residents.
state-mandated local program: A program where the state requires local governments to provide certain services or meet specific standards.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify when it will take effect.
It is unclear how much additional funding will be needed for local governments to comply with this law.

Bill History

2025-08-29 California Legislative Information
August 29 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
2025-08-20 California Legislative Information
August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2025-07-16 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (July 16). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-06-18 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on H. & C.D. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (June 17). Re-referred to Com. on H. & C.D.
2025-06-05 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on E.S & T.M. and H. & C.D.
2025-05-29 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
2025-05-29 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 1329.) Ordered to the Assembly.
2025-05-27 California Legislative Information
Ordered to special consent calendar.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 1211.) (May 23).
2025-05-20 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing May 23.
2025-05-19 California Legislative Information
May 19 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2025-05-09 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing May 19.
2025-05-05 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-05-01 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 8. Noes 0. Page 964.) (April 30).
2025-04-02 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 30.
2025-03-12 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on E.Q.
2025-02-24 California Legislative Information
Read first time.
2025-02-24 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 24.
2025-02-21 California Legislative Information
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 724, as amended, Richardson.
Public
water systems: public
housing: lead testing.
Existing law prohibits a person from using any pipe, pipe or plumbing fitting or fixture, solder, or flux that is not lead free in the installation or repair of any public water system or any plumbing in a facility providing water for human consumption, except when necessary for the repair of leaded joints of cast iron pipes. Existing law requires a community water system to compile an inventory of known lead user service lines in use in its distribution system and identify areas that may have lead user service lines in use in its distribution system, as provided.
Existing law authorizes the State Water Resources Control Board to apply these requirements to, and enforce them against, public water systems and community water systems, as specified.
This bill
would require
a public water system, including community water systems and noncommunity
water systems, that provides service to residents of
the owner of a
public housing
unit that is
owned or managed by a city, county, city and county, or city, county, or city and county housing authority, to provide information to
those
the
residents
of the public housing unit
regarding any applicable existing program that offers free testing of the water for lead.
Because a local government would be required to
provide a higher level of service by implementing its provisions, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF