Michigan House Bill HB5850

Michigan 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/22/26
• Refer: 4/22/26

Caption

Water supply: systems; cyber-physical security and operational technology protections for public water systems; provide for. Amends sec. 21 of 1976 PA 399 (MCL 325.1021) & adds sec. 8a.

Impact

The implications of HB5850 are significant as they not only establish legal obligations for public water suppliers but also elevate the standards of operational resilience. By setting forth specific security measures, including the creation of incident response and disaster recovery plans, the bill fortifies the state’s infrastructure against various risks. Failure to comply with these regulations may result in severe penalties, including substantial fines, thereby promoting accountability among waterworks operators in maintaining safe and reliable services.

Summary

House Bill 5850 aims to enhance the security measures for public water supply systems in Michigan. This legislative proposal amends the existing Safe Drinking Water Act by introducing new requirements that public water supply entities must adopt to protect their critical infrastructure from potential security threats. The bill mandates that these systems implement comprehensive risk-based cybersecurity initiatives that align with established national frameworks, ensuring preparedness against cyberattacks, physical attacks, and other vulnerabilities that could compromise public health and safety.

Contention

Some points of contention surrounding HB5850 relate to the costs associated with implementing these new regulations. Critics argue that smaller water supply systems may struggle to meet the financial and logistical demands of the mandated cybersecurity frameworks, which could lead to accessibility issues for rural or economically disadvantaged areas. As such, the balance between enhancing security and ensuring that all communities can maintain compliant standards remains a critical dialogue in the legislative discussions surrounding this bill.