Sen. Lee files bill in North Carolina Senate to establish PFAS mitigation fund

A new bill filed by State Sen. Michael V. Lee seeks to establish a fund supporting PFAS mitigation and research to address contamination in North Carolina’s water systems, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 666 on March 25 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘2025 Water Safety Act.’

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

In essence, this bill establishes the PFAS Mitigation Fund and allocates $56 million for PFAS mitigation efforts in North Carolina, focusing on public water and wastewater systems. It outlines the provision of grants for PFAS sampling, monitoring, and treatment technologies, prioritizing distressed units with significant PFAS impacts. Additionally, the bill allocates $14 million for PFAS-related research through the North Carolina Collaboratory, aiming to advance detection, treatment, and health impact assessments. It mandates maximum contaminant levels for specific PFAS in drinking water and requires the development of PFAS discharge limits and treatment requirements for significant industrial users and direct dischargers. Compliance schedules and enforceable PFAS discharge limits will be established, with technical assistance and guidance offered through collaboration with the North Carolina Collaboratory. The bill is effective upon becoming law.

Lee proposed another 33 bills 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.

Lee graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1991 with a BA and again in 1997 from Wake Forest University Law School with a JD.

Lee, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2023 to represent the state’s 7th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Jim Perry.