In July 2026, the North Carolina General Assembly and Governor Josh Stein passed Senate Bill 257, the 2026 Appropriations Act – or the long-awaited state budget.

We all understand that the budget tell us where and how our lawmakers are spending OUR hard-earned money. You may NOT realize that the legislation impacts environmental issues that affect our quality of life in North Carolina.

What does the new budget mean for your water quality?

There is good news. And there is not-so-good news – especially in the language surrounding the “Water Safety Act” portion of the bill.

There IS funding for emerging contaminant research and mitigation under the Water Safety Act — about $70 million, in fact. But — and this is a big BUT — the provisions fall woefully short of actually protecting vulnerable communities in North Carolina from harmful water pollution.

We don’t like big BUTS, and we cannot lie.

Why?

In a nutshell, the Water Safety Act in Senate Bill 257 calls for the NC Collaboratory — a research group based at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — to conduct a two-phase study, with more sampling, monitoring and reporting of harmful per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) and 1,4 dioxane discharges among several industries over three years.

Another study. We study issues TO DEATH in the great state of North Carolina.

So, what happens when the results are in?

Not much.

Apparently, the General Assembly is stealing a page from Miss Manners’ book: If you can’t be kind, at least be vague.

Under Senate Bill 257, much of the onus for forever chemical monitoring and reporting has passed from the NC Department of Environmental Quality – the regulatory agency – to the NC Collaboratory. So, the research findings funded by the budget essentially amount to “gee whiz” details with no legislative “teeth.”

And, to add insult to injury, the research findings “may be used for regulatory recommendations but may not be used for regulatory actions by the State of North Carolina.” We can study PFAS and 1,4 dioxane discharges ’til the cows, chickens and hogs come home. We’re well aware that polluters are discharging copious amounts of potentially carcinogenic chemicals into our waterways (and have been for decades). Researchers at NC State University and other institutions throughout the nation have already linked PFAS to a myriad of health concerns. But, even with the funding that the General Assembly has allocated to forever chemical research, the state has yet and apparently has no intention to hold these bad actors environmentally or financially responsible. And that is unacceptable.

The 2026 Appropriations Bill stalls efforts to hold polluters accountable, to stop chemical discharges at their sources and to force industries – NOT taxpayers – to pay for the damage to the natural environment of our state and the health of our residents.

In our field studies at Sustainable Sandhills, we have documented alarmingly high levels of PFAS contamination in rivers, lakes, private wells and municipal water sources across the region. Our partners have discovered similar concerns in other parts of the state. Our water utilities are working to mitigate these pollutants to the tune of billions of dollars that will likely, to at least some measure, be passed on to customers through service rate increases. Forever chemicals are causing serious health issues and financial concerns for residents who feel helpless in the ongoing fight against pollution.

So, we’re confident to say this: the research is already there. NOW is the time for ACTION. NOW is the time for ACCOUNTABILITY.

Tell your senators and representatives that clean water is not a privilege for North Carolinians. It’s a basic human right. And we must ACT to protect our rights – today, tomorrow and forever.