Safe Water in Schools Act

Summary#

This bill, the Safe Water in Schools Act of 2026, would change the Safe Drinking Water Act to address lead in school drinking water. It adds a requirement that the Administrator make grants to local educational agencies to provide certified point-of-use filtration systems at schools and child care programs. The filters may be provided as a preventive measure before testing and may be used for remediation after lead contamination is found. The bill also replaces prior spending authorizations and specifies annual authorized amounts for fiscal years 2026 through 2030. The bill was introduced by Representative John James and was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on April 30, 2026.

What it means for you#

• Local educational agencies could receive federal grants to install certified point-of-use water filters in school and child care program buildings under their control.
• The Administrator may allow installation of filters as a preventive step before testing for lead and may fund filters for remediation when contamination is found.
• Schools and child care programs named in grant applications would be the sites eligible for the filtration systems.

Expenses#

The bill sets authorized grant funding as follows:

• $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2026
• $63,000,000 for fiscal year 2027
• $66,000,000 for fiscal year 2028
• $69,000,000 for fiscal year 2029
• $72,000,000 for fiscal year 2030 No publicly available information on other program costs or how these amounts will be distributed beyond the text of the bill.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.