The GET THE LEAD OUT Act of 2026 mandates a comprehensive national strategy to eliminate lead-based pipe hazards in housing and public buildings while funding these initiatives through tax reforms on investment partnerships and estates.
Shontel Brown
Representative
OH-11
The GET THE LEAD OUT Act of 2026 establishes a comprehensive national framework to identify and eliminate lead-based pipe hazards in housing, schools, and public buildings. The legislation mandates rigorous safety standards, worker certification, and disclosure requirements for property owners, while authorizing $9.5 billion in annual funding for abatement efforts. To support these initiatives, the bill also implements tax reforms targeting investment fund managers and high-value estates to generate necessary federal revenue.
Lead Pipe Removal Mandate: New $9.5 Billion Annual Grant Program Triggers Disclosure Rules and Tax Hikes for Fund Managers
The GET THE LEAD OUT Act of 2026 is a massive federal push to scrub lead from America’s drinking water by targeting the pipes in our homes. At its core, the bill creates a $9.5 billion annual grant program through 2035 to help state and local governments find and rip out lead-based pipes, specifically focusing on affordable and federally assisted housing. It essentially sets a ten-year clock to identify and eliminate lead hazards, backed by a mandate that the EPA define exactly what level of lead in your tap is considered 'dangerous' within 18 months of the bill becoming law.
The Paperwork in Your Next Move
If you are planning to buy, sell, or rent a home, this bill adds a new layer to the process. Much like the existing rules for lead paint, sellers and landlords will now be required to disclose any known lead pipes before a deal is signed. Buyers will get a mandatory 10-day window to conduct their own inspections. For a family moving into an older home, this provides a critical safety net and the right to know what’s in the walls. However, for property owners and landlords, this means more inspections and potential liability. If a hazard is found during a federally funded renovation costing over $25,000 per unit, full lead pipe removal isn't just suggested—it’s required (Title I, Sec. 101).
Professionalizing the Pipeline
You won’t be able to just hire anyone with a wrench to fix these issues. The bill requires the EPA to establish a strict certification and training program for contractors within 18 months. This ensures that when pipes are replaced, the work doesn't accidentally kick more lead into the water supply. While this professionalization protects homeowners from shoddy work, it likely means that the cost of plumbing services for lead abatement will rise as contractors pass on the costs of their new certifications and specialized training to customers.
Paying the Tab: The Tax Twist
To fund this $95 billion decade-long project, the bill looks toward the high-rent districts of Wall Street and wealthy estates. It effectively closes the 'carried interest loophole' by reclassifying investment fund performance pay as ordinary income rather than capital gains (Title IV). This means private equity and hedge fund managers could see their tax rates nearly double on that income, plus they’ll now owe self-employment taxes on it. Additionally, the bill rolls back the estate tax exemption to pre-2018 levels—roughly $5 million per person—meaning more of a wealthy family's inheritance could be subject to federal taxes. While these changes won't touch the average paycheck, they represent a significant shift in how the government plans to bankroll public health infrastructure by tapping into private investment profits.