LSL Policy Lowdown: June 8–12, 2026
🔎Legislative Scanner
Check out state LSL bills worth keeping an eye on by visiting EPIC's legislative scanner.
State updates
New York makes $127M available for LSL Replacement
Governor Hochul announced the latest round of Water Infrastructure Improvement Act (WIIA) grants, will dedicate $127 million (30%) to LSL inventories and replacement projects.
EPIC’s take:👍More funding is always welcome, but NY could be doing more. This move signals that New York is willing to make LSL replacement a priority. However, the funding would only cover a small fraction (~2.7%) of the state’s overall replacement needs. As IIJA funding winds down, stronger state investments will be needed to maintain momentum and help utilities meet LCRI requirements. New York could go even further by creating a dedicated, non-competitive funding mechanism similar to those proposed in NY S1850-B and NY A8190. Direct support to municipalities can remove barriers to access competitive grant funds, particularly the high costs, staffing capacity, and administrative burdens required to assemble applications.
Small systems face inventory challenges
A recent article on Wisconsin’s LSL inventory efforts highlights the unique challenges that small and under-resourced systems face. Limited data combined with limited staff and resources makes it difficult for many small systems to collect and document enough evidence to meet state inventory requirements.
EPIC’s take:💡No surprises there! One of the biggest lessons we’ve learned as a technical assistance provider is that funding alone is not enough. Smaller systems often need hands-on support before they are ready to apply for funding, manage awards, or navigate compliance requirements. As states and EPA look to accelerate replacement, investing in technical assistance and capacity-building will also be important. EPA’s proposed flexibilities—particularly around acceptable forms of supporting documentation—could help reduce some of these challenges and make it easier for smaller systems to complete inventories.
Want to learn more?
Visit EPIC's LSL Replacement Initiative page and our Lead Innovation Hub.
