Bill curbing lead in school drinking water heads to Gov.

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Washington’s public and private schools will soon need to take new steps to curb children’s exposure to lead in drinking water. The Seattle Times reports House Bill 1139, cleared a final hurdle in the state Senate on a 48-0 vote on Sunday. It’s designed to address gaps in school-safety requirements by mandating schools fix or replace fixtures that leach the toxin into water sources. Until now, the state has not required schools to test or keep records on lead levels, although some do voluntarily. The House approved the measure on a 94-4 vote on March 4. It now heads to Gov. Jay Inslee’s desk.