The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 7172, amends the Sewage Right-to-Know Act by updating the timeline and methods for public notification regarding sewage spills and permitted sewage bypasses. Specifically, it repeals the previous deadline of December 1, 2021, and replaces it with a new deadline of December 1, 2026, for the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to implement a real-time public notification system. This system will allow the public to receive notifications via phone, electronic mail, or text message about any sewage incidents reported to the department.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that these real-time notifications must be provided independently of any social media platforms and must occur within two hours of the department receiving a report of a sewage spill or bypass. This change aims to enhance public awareness and safety regarding sewage-related incidents, ensuring timely communication to the community.