Rep. Reives files bill in North Carolina House to address PFAS water contamination

A new bill filed by State Rep. Robert T. Reives, II seeks to hold manufacturers accountable for PFAS contamination and ensure public water systems are reimbursed for related costs, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 569 on March 27 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘PFAS Pollution and Polluter Liability.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill aims to protect North Carolina citizens from drinking water contaminated by PFAS compounds, including GenX. It establishes a new provision allowing the Secretary of Environmental Quality to order responsible PFAS manufacturers to reimburse public water systems for costs incurred in addressing contamination, including implementing technology to reduce PFAS levels. Manufacturers are liable for costs if their actions contributed to PFAS presence exceeding permissible levels. Public water systems must refund ratepayers if previous expenses related to PFAS remediation are reimbursed. The bill allocates $300,000 from the General Fund for fiscal 2025-26 to the Department of Environmental Quality for implementation, with an effective date of Sept. 1, 2025. The bill’s provisions apply retroactively to costs incurred since Jan. 1, 2017.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Diane Wheatley proposed the most bills (21) during the 2025 regular session.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Reives graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1992 with a BA and again in 1995 from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a JD.

Reives, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2014 to represent the state’s 54th House district, replacing previous state representative Deb McManus.