Enacts the Legionnaires' disease prevention act

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Cordell Cleare says this is needed

Every year, often in the warmer summer months, there is a spread and outbreak of Legionnaires' Disease throughout the country. Numbers are somewhat elusive because not everyone that has the disease reports it, or even seeks medical care (for example, they may just presume they have rhinovirus, influenza, COVID or a mild pneumonia or related respiratory affliction). However, Legionnaires' can be deadly and in Central Harlem in 2025 it was responsible for at least 5 deaths and dozens of serious hospitalizations. Our current approach is far too focused on building systems such as cooling towers. Legionella bacteria exist and always have existed outside of such systems, as they naturally occur in all types of water both saltwater and fresh/spring water. That is why the most effective place to target expunging and filtering the bacteria is a source to tap method. Once Legionella is in the building system, it can be spread anytime someone takes a shower, uses the dishwasher or other- wise undertakes any activity that distributes water particulate into the air. Filtering the bacteria out at the source is the finest and most efficacious way to end Legionella spread.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.