The proposed bill, General Assembly Committee Bill No. 6224, aims to enhance water supplies and address workforce shortages in the water treatment sector. It mandates the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to develop a comprehensive plan that includes several key initiatives: improving the dam permitting process by expanding existing general permits, enhancing the preapplication and intake process for better project understanding, prioritizing permit reviews based on dam classification and function, collaborating with water utilities to address liability concerns related to the Department of Transportation's encroachment permit process, and providing incentives to attract and retain qualified water treatment facility operators.

The bill requires the commissioner to submit the developed plan and any legislative recommendations to the relevant joint standing committee by February 1, 2026. The act is set to take effect upon passage and introduces new legal language to current law, specifically establishing a new section focused on these initiatives. The bill does not propose any deletions from existing law.