HF 4224

12/01/25   REVISOR  EB/NS  26-05932
This Document can be made available  Printed
in alternative formats upon request  State of Minnesota  Page No.    256
  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
  NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
  H. F. No.  4224
03/12/2026     Authored by Fischer
  The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy
03/23/2026     Adoption of Report: Placed on the General Register
  Read for the Second Time
04/27/2026     Calendar for the Day
  Read for the Third Time
  Passed by the House and transmitted to the Senate
04/30/2026     Passed by the Senate and returned to the House
05/06/2026     Presented to Governor
05/07/2026     Governor Approval
1.1A bill for an act
1.2relating to environment; modifying notice requirements for water discharges;
1.3amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 115.061.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 115.061, is amended to read:
1.6115.061 DUTY TO NOTIFY; AVOIDING WATER POLLUTION.
1.7(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), it is the duty of every person to notify the agency
1.8immediately of the discharge, accidental or otherwise, of any substance or material under
1.9its control which, if not recovered, may cause pollution of waters of the state, and the
1.10responsible person shall recover as rapidly and as thoroughly as possible such substance or
1.11material and take immediately such other action as may be reasonably possible to minimize
1.12or abate pollution of waters of the state caused thereby.
1.13(b) Notification is not required under paragraph (a) for a discharge of five gallons or
1.14less of petroleum, as defined in section 115C.02, subdivision 10. This paragraph does not
1.15affect the other requirements of paragraph (a).
1.16(c) Promptly after notifying the agency of a discharge under paragraph (a), a publicly
1.17owned treatment works or a publicly or privately owned domestic sewer system owner must
1.18provide notice of the discharge to the potentially impacted downstream users, including the
1.19public, Tribal governments, and to any downstream drinking water facility that may be
1.20impacted by the discharge facilities. Notice to the public and to any drinking water facility
1.21must be made using the most efficient communications system available to the facility
1.22owner such as in person, telephone call, radio, social media, web page, or another expedited
Section 1.  1
      12/01/25   REVISOR  EB/NS  26-05932
2.1 form. In addition, signage must be posted at all impacted public use areas within the same
2.2 jurisdiction or notification must be provided to the entity that has jurisdiction over any
2.3 impacted public use areas. A notice under this paragraph must include the date and time of
2.4 the discharge, a description of the material released, a warning of the potential public health
2.5 risk, and the permittee's contact information.
2.6     (d) The agency must provide guidance that includes but is not limited to methods and
2.7 protocols for providing timely notice under this section.
      Section 1.  2